Obama = Britney and Paris?

Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 11:31 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Ads

From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
In its latest TV ad hitting Obama, the McCain campaign calls Obama the "biggest celebrity in the world" -- and in the process shows clips of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. The ad continues, "With gas prices soaring, Barack Obama says no to offshore drilling. And says he'll raise taxes on electricity. Higher taxes, more foreign oil, that's the real Obama."

On Morning Joe yesterday, McCain manager Rick Davis compared Obama to Paris Hilton. "Barack Obama has become a global celebrity," he said. "I mean, Barack Obama has more fans across the world than Paris Hilton does. I mean, it's just an extraordinary thing. And I don't think anybody would underestimate that."

Unlike its TV ad blasting Obama (falsely) over the Landstuhl controversy, which ran just a handful of times, this new ad, the campaign says, will be cycled into the campaign's buy on national cable and in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia, and Wisconsin.

*** UPDATE *** Obama camp's response: “On a day when major news organizations across the country are taking Senator McCain to task for a steady stream of false, negative attacks, his campaign has launched yet another," Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said. "Or, as some might say, ‘Oops! He did it again.’  Our dependence on foreign oil is one of the greatest challenges we face. In this election the American people have a real choice -- between Obama’s plan to provide tax rebates to American families while creating a renewable energy economy in America that frees us from our dependence on foreign oil, and Senator McCain’s plan to continue the same failed energy policies by handing out nearly $4 billion in tax breaks to oil companies while investing almost nothing in the new energy sources that represent our future."

Below is the script:
ANNCR: He's the biggest celebrity in the world.
But, is he ready to lead?
With gas prices soaring, Barack Obama says no to offshore drilling.
And says he'll raise taxes on electricity.
Higher taxes, more foreign oil, that's the real Obama.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

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