McCain's Convention Ad Congratulates Obama

UPDATE: John McCain has released the ad he will air in response to Barack Obama's acceptance speech. In it, he congratulates Obama on his historic nomination.

Here's the ad:

The full ad transcript:

JOHN MCCAIN: Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America.

Too often the achievements of our opponents go unnoticed. So I wanted to stop and say, congratulations.

How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day. Tomorrow, we'll be back at it. But tonight Senator, job well done.

I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

***END OF UPDATE***

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John McCain's campaign is setting expectations high for its response to Barack Obama's acceptance speech in Denver tonight: an ad airing in battleground states. Communications Director Jill Hazelbaker describes the spot "historic" and "exciting," but the campaign won't offer details. Here she is talking about it on "Morning Joe":

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Apparently the McCain campaign has an ad rolling out tonight. What's it about?

JILL HAZELBAKER: Well, Mika, this is a historic ad. I think this is the first of its kind. Senator McCain is going to speak direct to camera to Barack Obama. I'm not going to give away many more details than that. But suffice to say it's going to be a very exciting ad, and I think it's going to get a lot of attention.
...

BRZEZINSKI: Jill, you've got to give us more on this ad. He's speaking directly to camera, John McCain is to Barack Obama. If you say there's news here, what's the news?

HAZELBAKER: Well, I'm going to keep a lid on it. But I think it's newsworthy to note that Senator McCain is going to have an ad that's going to air in battleground states around the time that Senator Obama is speaking tonight. And he's going to be talking directly to his opponent. So, I'm going to leave it there, but it's going be very exciting and a lot of people are going to focus on it.

The Politico notes that "the strip-tease on the ad is one of several moves by the McCain campaign that could distract attention from Obama's big night." They are also fueling speculation about McCain's VP pick.

Comments

[haleywins]

Self-promotion, nothing more, and a way to have the last word.

Beneath contempt, John McCain is no gentleman.

[mdstrummer]

I suppose in theory, this was a smart move -- make everyone think you are going to attack and then take the high road. The problem is he couldn't sell it. McCain clearly despises Obama and it showed in the clenched teeth behind that forced smile. I'd love to see a body language expert analyze that commercial and tell us what McCain was really thinking! As a result, what could have been a clever idea instead just underscores (along with the sarcasm drenched "celebrity" ads) McCain's image as an angry, bitter man. Thanks, John -we'll take any free advertising we can get!

[01202009]

Am I just imaging that McSame very subtlety played the race card? He reminds every WHITE American that Martin Luther King's great speech was on that day--and guess what? MLK and Obama are both not white! What a scum bag and pandering closet racist.

[personalpolitical]

That's no high road, the same night he released a statement attacking Obama's speech. High road my ass.

[iRob08]

High road, eh? He had to come up for air sooner or later.

[mox]

I thought that will go down in history as the most self-serving wasteful political ad in history.
What a joke. He took supporter's money just to steal some thunder away from Obama on a night that history was made.

[devild1nosaur]

I'll give the devil his due. Bravo, Senator McCain. Obama also said some things last night acknowledging your service to your country and your patriotism. You are entitled to disagree with one another, but lets not impugn each other's dignity. This is a great step toward bipartisanship, and long overdue.

I know it won't happen, but I'd have a lot more respect for both parties if they take the high road throughout this campaign. The mudslinging and divisiveness of the Red/Blue mentality is at the very center of the polarization felt throughout this country on issues like race, religion, and economic status. And it's only raising the tensions between Americans, not helping us restore our country to the world leadership we once could righteously claim.

Obama made the point very well last night that we're all in this together, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. All voters should take it to heart. And damnation to they that cast the first stone.

[Twopennygal]

Two words: supercilious and condescending.

[Podewumun]

That ad is creepy. He looks like a talking Madame Tussauds figure.

[NYCMami]

HYPOCRITE!!!

This is the same man who was key in Arizona being the sole hold-out in these here Unites States to have a MLK holiday.

Steaming sack of..........

[neocon666]

Great! He can use is again after Obama wins in November.

[RichardMDaley]

haha..

[scottmhall]

ha!

[MaryfromMontcoPA]

This ad is "historic"? And "exciting"? Talk about out of touch!

Then again, maybe they think it's historic that McCain did something decent.

[NotFooledByDistractions]

McCain taking the high road?

There's a first time for everything. I guess this is it.

[Podewumun]

McCain taking the high road only means he took a wrong turn and now he's lost.

[EuroPreacher]

Here is the reason why he took the high road,he learnt from his mistakes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aMDJP4VxY4

[devild1nosaur]

If they need someone to reprise the Joker in the next Batman flick, McCAin will have another chance at celebrity. That pale, pasty face, that ghoulish, fake smile---eeeeew, grisly! He frightens me way more than Nicholson or Ledger!

[debrouillard]

he took the "High Road" for one hour. In fact for just as long as it took to say no attack for a day. The moment he finished saying that,He was back in the mud.

[Banji81]

Sorry, this smarmy contrived drivel simply doesn't pass the smell test.

[clearthinker2008]

Whatever.