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***

Story continues below

advertisement

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

[Clairvaux]

If McSame took the "high road", it's because he got confused and made a wrong turn.

[filo]

That loud cracking sound you just heard was hell freezing over.

[partyofone]

Thanks John McCain for stating the obvious and the truth, for once. But be careful, Obama owns the high road in politics and its a long way down to the mud pit where you Bush, Rove and the Clintons thrive.

McCain's camp called this ''historic" unprecedented, sure to get a huge buzz. Interesting. I guess the TRUTH is a departure for the GOP and McCain. Now that they have found it, I hope the strategy sticks.

And maybe at his convention next week, McCain can follow Hillary's lead, releasing his delegates and asking that Obama be elected president by acclaimation. Now there is aa headlline graber. :)

[AnnieinOR]

there's another article saying how he couldn't stay classy for long.... true to form!

[LeoMarvin]

Very shrewd, classy ad. And one doesn't negate the other. McCain deserves credit for doing the right thing, whatever his motive. Otherwise nobody who wouldn't do it anyway has any incentive to.

[partyofone]

Classy would have been a withdrawl, and introduction of a bill in Congress to move the Election to September and swear in Obama by October 1. Every day Bush remains in office We the People suffer.

[jeroen63]

Look closely at the first seconds of the ad.

Has McCain forgot who he's running against? Does he really first look at somebody behind the camera holding up a sign reading 'Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America.'? Isn't he even capable of remembering the very few lines of this phony and insincere ad?

And he even forgets to mention he was a POW.

John McCain - One trick POWny

[meanguy]

he also forgot to mention that obama shouldn't be elected because he is black, and has a 'funny name'..but give the left a few days, and they'll all be claiming he said that

[EileenToTheRight]

uh...HELLO­? put down the bong, hon....

Obama is the only one who's ever said
ANYTHING about being black, or havig a funny name.

keep up. :::eyeroll

[Hatchibakku99]

Well, call me naive, but I thought it was kind of touching (in a very temporary sort of way). But then when Barack mopped the floor with him in his acceptance speech, it was back to, "Game on -- you go, Barack!!!"

[Cameronj]

He's the first political candidate to run ads against his opponent during their convention. So, why not run a piece of disingenuous fluff to make himself look good?

[XME]

I guess after he tried to cut off Obama's big night, when he became the presumtive nominee, with his "green screen" speech and creepy smile, he figured he's better off not even trying...a­fter all, trying only makes him look worse and highlights how good Obama is!

[debrouillard]

High road? WTF are u on about? He promises to be back the next day and you call that high road?

May for 5 and 1/2 years theres was only the low road available to him.

The old man just makes me sick.

[meanguy]

so, campaigning against obama is 'the low road?' you remind me of the fool who took bill clinton to task for having the nerve to support hillary during the primaries

[littlepuffycloud]

oh crap. YOU again?

[the964kid]

Whatever - he's still an a * * hole!

[iswideopen]

John McBush, keep it. You don't mean a word of what you say. You have insulted so many Americans with your nasty attack Karl Rove ads.

[todayslies]

that is nothing but a gigantic waste of money, advertising Obama's historical moment. i hope to god he airs this in as many markets as anyone can. what an idiot blowing his dough like this. keep it up, ole man mccain, keep it up!

[Mellenbal]

McCain on the high road. How refreshing.

Naturally, tomorrow the Double-Talk Express will have veered off the high road, crossed over the low road and resumed course in the gutter.

[chronic]

Hot dang!!

[CindyM2008]

He ended the night on the low road, thanks to his campaign statement.