I think he will if he have to. He's been able to avoid getting dirty so far because he's realized he can talk straight to the U.S. and we'll still accept him. It helps that it elevates the discourse, but he's a man trying to get elected, just like any other. He's not any better than anyone else, aside from being the best candidate.

ExceptforPaulKucinichandGravel

Actually, I don't think it's just a matter of biding his time. I think he would actually prefer to NOT get dirty at all. But it ain't gonna happen in this election cycle. Obama took a laid back approach leading up to and during the Democratic Convention. And his numbers tanked. Unfortunately, the media LOVES nasty stuff. In fact, they count on it. How many times did you hear "Where's the red meat?" from news commentators. The Republicans opened a "war room" 3 miles from the Pepsi Center with the stated intention of attacking EVERYTHING that came out of the convention. About a dozen GOP blogger/researchers set up camp with the intention of flooding media e-mail boxes with counter-arguments to everything said inside the Pepsi Center within MINUTES of it being broadcast. And the media gleefully ate it up. Like it or not, running a presidential campaign in 2008 is cross between a car commercial and a WWE shout down. Oh, dirty is inevitable!

The guy is gunna have to if he wants to stay in the race.

I doubt he will begin mud slinging because it would be very poor strategy. He's built a lot of his campaign on his integrity and his unwillingness to play dirty; It would be downright idiotic to throw this approach away now that people like him for this very approach. I'm not too worried: He'll keep it clean.

Why ruin his reputation now?

I think he's proven that you don't have to. McCain is a butcher, Obama is a surgeon.

I think he will continue on the high moral ground to the end. What a pity =)