Bueller? Bueller? Rove?

Ben Stein thinks the McCain campaign needs on thing to succeed: Karl Rove.

Ben Stein tells CNN's Mark Preston that John McCain is running the "most pathetic campaign" he's ever seen.

That's right, that Karl Rove.

At a time when McCain is seeking to distance himself from President Bush, Stein argues McCain needs to enlist Bush's chief political guru in order to defeat Sen. Barack Obama....

From Stein's perspective, McCain has been running an uninspiring campaign -- one that lacks a coherent message.

"Mr. McCain is running the absolute most pathetic campaign I have ever seen in my whole life," Stein said in his unmistakable monotone delivery. "His campaign is just heartbreakingly pathetic. He is a very impressive guy. He is a brave guy, but he is running the most lackluster campaign I have ever seen in my entire life. I would have thought Bob Dole's campaign would have set a record for poor campaigns, but this one is even worse. I mean it is shocking."

Thus Stein's answer to turn it around is Rove -- architect of Bush's back-to-back presidential victories -- who he describes as "about the smartest in the country in terms of politics."

A McCain campaign spokesman politely sidestepped Stein's criticism by saying the campaign is well-equipped to defeat Obama in November.

"Our campaign is competing for every vote," said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds. "We will have the resources and organization that John McCain needs to win this race because there is excitement for an independent leader who will fight wasteful government spending, grow the economy and keep taxes low. Presumably, that is why Ben Stein is a supporter of ours -- which is an endorsement we are very proud to have."

I think the psychological term for that last statement is "denial".