The feistier, more sarcastic tone came as worried Democrats urged Obama to get tougher and show more passion. Obama has tried to assure donors and voters that he's been schooled by Chicago politics. "I'm skinny but I'm tough," he says.  (snip)

"And now he [McCain] tells us that he's the one who's going to take on the old boys network," Obama said. "The old boys’ network. In the McCain campaign that's called a staff meeting. Come on."  (Cha-cha-ching) (snip)

In Elko, Obama tried to anticipate his critics and called on the crowd of about 1,500 to sharpen their elbows, too. "I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors. I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face," he said.

“I don’t believe in the trash-talking. I believe he is aggressive.”

I’m not afraid of this short man who answers to a room full of good ol’ boy Mullah’s. Hey, I’m skinny, but I’m tough. And so what if his presidential campaign motto was "It's doable and we can do it." Mine is three words shorter – “Yes, we can.” If he thinks he’s going to pull his slick talk on me, I’ll give him some verbal judo the likes of which he’s never heard before. Bring it on Mahmoud.