McCain's first negative ad

Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008 3:49 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
McCain is out with his first negative ad of the general election. "Troop funding" goes right after Obama for having "never held a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan" and for not having "been to Iraq in years."

"Positions that helped him win his nomination,” an announcer says. “Now Obama is changing to help himself become president. John McCain has always supported our troops and the surge that's working. McCain. Country first.”

McCain has had negative Web videos of Obama, but nothing on paid television.

The new ad is being cycled into the campaign's buy on national cable and CO, IA, MI, MO, NV, NH, NM, OH, PA, VA (NoVA) and WI.

McCain's ad, "Love," had several veiled shots at the presumptive Democratic nominee, but the focus was on McCain's biography -- not Obama.

*** UPDATE *** The Obama campaign released this response: "While Barack Obama wants to change American foreign policy to wind down the war in Iraq and address the grave threat posed by a resurgent al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan, John McCain offers this patently misleading negative ad," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. "Given his calls for a civil campaign, it's disappointing that Senator McCain has slipped so easily into the same, tired campaign tactics that have become so familiar to the American people."

Script for "Troop Funding" (TV :30)
ANNCR: Barack Obama never held a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan.
He hasn't been to Iraq in years.
He voted against funding our troops.
Positions that helped him win his nomination. Now Obama is changing to help himself become president.
John McCain has always supported our troops and the surge that's working.
McCain. Country first.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Just out of curiosity--What, exactly, has McCain done that has had a positive and lasting effect on anything while in the Senate? He has a reputation for being a maverick but seems to always support, in the end, everything the Republicans and more importantly this President seems to want. His claim to fame is getting a plane shot down over Hanoi and then being able to resist the questioning of his captors for 5 years. Notice, I didn't refer to anything that happened to him as torture because he wasn't tortured according to the current definition.

D. Lieb, Riverton, Wyoming (Sent Friday, July 18, 2008 5:21 PM)

I live in Arizona and between McCain and Kyl, feel pretty lacking in representation in the senate. McCain is never there, except to pick up his paycheck, and Kyl waits by the phone to see how Bush wants him to vote. Check both of their records on support for PEOPLE of the military. Dismal. Is it January '09 yet? Just hoping WE THE PEOPLE get it a bit closer to right this time!

Michelle, Tucson, AZ (Sent Friday, July 18, 2008 5:22 PM)

I also have never been to Iraq. But I also know starting an unnecessary war based on lies in wrong.

Jim Hall, Monrovia CA (Sent Friday, July 18, 2008 5:23 PM)

The bloggers assume that attending Senate meetings about a foreign country will enlighten someone a lot. Visiting the country will help along with analyzing what is going on in the minds of the ragheads who live there. So while Obama doesn't know anything I don't think McCain is all that more knowledgeable. I approve of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq but I would do things differently. Most of them dislike or hate us and will feel that way whether or not we bail them out. Therefore, instead of riding up and down the road like ducks on the pond I would be bombing them like there was no tomorrow and doing mostly stealth operations. The American public could give a tinkers damn about how many of THEM are killed. We should focus on minimizing our personnel losses and wiping out insurgents and their supporters.

James Conway Macon Georgia (Sent Friday, July 18, 2008 5:23 PM)

For those who think Obama is somehow way different than other politicians, it's quite clear that he's changing his positions for the general election... just like most politicians.

Obama appears against conflict anytime, anywhere, for any reason. Not a comforting thought for me.

Compare the foreign policy and national security experience of the two candidates. McCain wins, no question.

John Wagner (Sent Friday, July 18, 2008 5:24 PM)

To truth guy - no truth in this ad. Just McCain being a Karl Rove puppet. Are we surprised by any of this?????

W. Goin (Sent Friday, July 18, 2008 5:25 PM)

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