McCain, Obama Tax War Sparked With New Ads (VIDEO)

SEE UPDATE BELOW FOR NEW McCAIN RESPONSE

Early on Wednesday morning, both Barack Obama and John McCain released ads focused on taxes. If the tone of both spots proved predictable, the amount of money being pushed into each campaign's ad was not. Though McCain has outspent Obama on paid media in battleground states so far this month, Obama's new television ad will start getting pumped into several key states today -- specifically, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia.

By contrast, McCain's new piece is a radio ad, and his campaign has declined to reveal exactly how hard or in what parts of the country it will be pushed.

Entitled "Three Times," Obama's ad promises middle-class tax relief, contrasting the Illinois Senator's plan with McCain's tax breaks for large corporations.

Meanwhile, McCain's radio ad dings Obama for proposing more spending programs that "will lead to even higher budget deficits" and pile "more debt on the backs of your children and grandchildren."

Of course, the same Tax Policy Center that McCain's campaign used in a "fact sheet" accompanying the new radio ad has said McCain's budget would enlarge the deficit, as well. "Both John McCain and Barack Obama have proposed tax plans that would substantially increase the national debt over the next ten years," the group wrote in its most recent report.

But for progressive writers like Paul Krugman who have despaired at the Obama campaign's "lethargic" economic messaging, the fact that Obama is counter-punching on taxes with an expensive media buy should prove a welcome development.

UPDATE: The McCain campaign has responded to Obama's ad by disputing the implication that tax breaks for companies hurt the economy.

"America's business taxes are the second highest in the world, and that is driving American jobs overseas," wrote McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds in an email to reporters. "So while American families are hurting and jobs are becoming scarce, Barack Obama is pushing for billions in higher taxes -- it's a recipe for economic disaster."

But, interestingly, the lengthy "fact sheet" sent out with Bounds's response does not offer any push-back against the idea that Obama's tax plan would provide three times as much relief to middle-class families compared to McCain.

Comments

[LouisianaLiberal]

I am becoming more and more concerned that this is just a replay of the 2004 election. Today it seems that Obama and McBush are exactly tied as Obama lost electoral votes steadily in the last month. Can the reason for this be the negative ads the McBush campaign has released all month? Are Americans really that stupid? Do they not know while McBush calls Obama an elitist he travels to and from one of his 8-10 homes in his $550 shoes? Can’t they grasp the McBush inconsistencies?

My family and I cannot afford to let these people handle America for another 4/8 years. We will lose our home as our mortgage competes with our energy bill for attention. I know I am not alone, but I’m afraid that the human frailty of obdurate habitual choices will force a sheep-like will toward the known enemy rather than the riskier but more attractive option of change. I feel a familiar debilitating wave of depression setting in.

[duchessdorleans]

... as if it's not depressing enough being a liberal in Louisiana ;>

[LouisianaLiberal]

It's not easy...

[FearlessFraz]

My thoughts exactly! Darn!

[daveincolorado]

"The McCain campaign has responded to Obama's ad by disputing the implication that tax breaks for companies hurt the economy". That's what Bush has been doing, right? How's that working out?

[bryansmith]

I've been listening to conservative talk radio quite a bit lately, and they have really ramped up the anti-Obama rhetoric. It is taking its toll. McCain is now ahead in the polls.

Obama really needs to get on the radio, at saturation level, and dismantle the McCain camp. He needs to turn the 527's lose on McCain, and after he gets a bump from the VP selection and convention, he will need to find a way to steel the spot light from the GOP convention. Last time around, Kerry got a huge boost from the convention, then never recovered from the following Rep convention.

Character assasination is a Blt(h

[Pammy1151]

If you can listen to that garbage for more than 15 minutes than you are not an Obama supporter anyway. So keep your advise to yourself.

[Dave01]

Actually I listen to it occasionally just to arm myself. This way when I am out talking to voters and getting people registered I will know what BS is out there and how to dismantle the argument that so-called "conservatives" are making.

[duchessdorleans]

I disagree. It's important to be listening to that stuff so we know what is being put out there by the lying hate machine. I just can't do it without risking a stroke, so Sartre bless you for having the stomach for it bryansmith.

[bryansmith]

I listen so that I understand what they are thinking, what they are saying, and who is listenting. This way, I can spot the talking points before any perspective Obama hater can uter them.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

Obama '08

[Whatashame]

Obama should question McCain judgement in an ad too. His so call judgement put us in Iraq and 10 Billions in the hole while our economy is suffering. If that is the type of judgement McCain is offering then we don't want it. He should blast McCain on his so call damn judgement.

[Maka]

Excellent ad. Like so many of us have been saying, O doesn't need to sling any mud at McCain. Just talk about M's actual plans and the anti-McCain stuff just happens naturally.

[JJ30]

I'm glad to see Obama striking back because McCain and his dirty tactics are not going to give up. Obama cannot let sit back and let his old white haired dude define who he is and what he stands for. He has come out with both gloves on swinging.

[anyonebut]

I would like to see Obama as POTUS but this ad doesn't really make sense. It says McCain won't give us any tax relief and Obama will give us three times as much. Three times nothing is still nothing. (maybe I need more caffeine)

[duchessdorleans]

OMFG you're right. I have to go listen to the ad again! 0 x 3 = 0! Crap!

[duchessdorleans]

"100 million Americans get no tax relief at all."
"Barack Obama: a plan that cuts taxes for middle class families 3 times as much as John McCain would"

From the Obmama website "McCain’s only direct tax cut for the middle class is an increase in the dependent exemption, which leaves out 101 million households"

see: http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/taxes/Tax_Plan_Comparison_FINAL.pdf

[whiteboyblues]

John McCain
Less Jobs. More Wars.

[NatteringNabob]

More debt.

Oh, and more lies.

[Hillrick]

And lots more dead....of course some see a thinning of the herd as a good thing(leadership people not me, ok?)

[Chavez08]

...and more poison to the air and water

[cubs325]

Obama is blowing it big time!!!!! He has allowed the party handlers to change his message or worse he has changed his message - personally i would like to request my money back

[Sabreen60]

Go for it!!!!!

[loper2008]

what are you talking about?

T
R
O
L
L

[Tropiholic]

i'll send you your buck fifty back, pooma

[Pammy1151]

What part of "needs to get elected" don't you understand????? Your vote alone won't do it. He needs lots more so he does have to appeal to more than just YOU!!!!

[bryansmith]

Sounds like buyers remorse to me. I have my doubts you ever supported him at all. And if you did, then you should support him even more when he is down. Why jump ship the country needs your help?

[Voltage]

I think this one will hit home. It's direct and heartfelt.

[Missmn]

Wow. I think this Obama ad is the best yet. Keep 'em coming.

[Freesia2]

It's a good ad because it spells out the facts in really simple terms.

What I would like to see is this ad, and two or three others that do the same thing played incessantly. A constant drum because some people out there need to have it beat into their awareness.

The Republicans hammer. Where the Democrats seem to miss it is they let the sun set on smears. They shouldn't go to bed til they've addressed head on whatever delightful little ditty that day brought from the Republican camp - and when the sun rises they should get right back at it. No coffee, no Wheaties until you've addressed whatever the Republicans were up to in the middle of the night.

[aware4O]

i agree but only after the "hands" ad focusing on "building" a new energy independance with wind solar and hybrid vehicles.

love that ad!

[Sportswoman]

They need to play this one during the Olympic closing ceremonies and all major top ten shows, including my personal fave, Mad men.

[Rockwell]

Hey HuffPo, could you please be consistent about providing transcripts whenever there's a video referenced? A lot of us work for Big Brother corporations that don't allow streaming video. (yeah, yeah, I should be working, blah, blah, blah).

[catzoned]

We poor, disabled, and elderly folks watching this election closely with our dial-up connections cannot do video either so transcripts would be great. We also don't have cable or satellite so we're relying on you blogs to give us information we need. Please don't lock us out of this great American democratic election process as well - as some politicians tend to do.

[happypup]

Great Obama ad - hope we see many more just like this!

[snruB]

We need more of the same, Barack Keep making ads like this, cause it will mess up McCain