As has been reflected in some of the national tracking polls this week, the bump that John McCain got thanks to his choice of running mate and the GOP Convention has receded somewhat, in what wasn't the best week for the Arizona Senator.

Both McCain and Barack Obama seemed like they weren't really in synch this week in reacting to the troubles on Wall Street. 

McCain started the week off with a bit of a gaffe in saying that the fundamentals of the economy were "strong" and then switching to different language a few hours later while in Florida.

(And I'll let you look up on the internet how McCain seemed to think the leader of Spain or the country itself was located somewhere other than in Europe.)

While Obama didn't have any major rhetorical blunders, he did have a few that came close.  First he started off by claiming credit for the original idea for the economic stimulus plan approved early in the year, which isn't exactly the way it happened.

Then some of his ads got the big thumbs down in media reviews for not exactly telling the truth, which is of course what Obama has been accusing McCain of doing.

On Wall Street, Obama tried to walk a middle line on the AIG takeover, subjecting himself to Republican ridicule and charges that echoed his votes of "Present" in the Illinois Legislature.

In reality, neither candidate seemed to have any ready answers on what to do about the stock market upheaval, though McCain certainly scored some points with his call for the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be fired.

(Note to former Republican Congressman Chris Cox of California: I hope you have enjoyed your time at the SEC.  Maybe it's time to get that resume in order.)

Obama though took that call for heads to roll one step further at a rally in New Mexico.

"In the next 47 days you can fire the whole trickle-down, on-your-own, look-the-other way crowd in Washington who has led us down this disastrous path. Don't just get rid of one guy. Get rid of this administration," said Obama.

Even with all of the gaffes and missteps on both sides, my gut tells me that Obama has had the slightly better week, but it's not anything to write home about. 

One week from today, both men will have a chance to really shake up this race, as they meet for the first of three debates, starting at the University of Mississippi on Friday night September 26.

Then we will get to see whether either one can put the other on the ropes.