ST. PAUL, Minn. — As John McCain pushes the new Republican presidential ticket of McCain-Palin, Democrat Barack Obama is promoting another Republican brand _ McCain-Bush.

An ad released by the campaign Saturday acknowledged McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his new running mate, but its images and words leave no doubt that Obama wants the public to judge McCain by the policies of President Bush.

The ad, called "No Change," began airing nationally on cable television as Republicans gathered in St. Paul for their national convention. The spot carefully avoids direct criticism of Palin while proclaiming that McCain offers no change from an unpopular president.

"Well, he's made his choice," the ad states. "But, for the rest of us there's still no change. McCain doesn't get it, calling this broken economy 'strong.' Wants to keep spending ten-billion-a-month in Iraq. And votes with George Bush 90 percent of the time."

The ad continues: "So, while this may be his running mate ..." as an image of McCain and Palin, Alaska's governor, appears on the screen. The image then shifts to a shot of McCain with Bush. "America knows this is John McCain's agenda. And we can't afford four more years of the same."

The ad illustrates the Obama camp's careful reaction to Palin's addition to the Republican ticket. McCain's choice was a groundbreaking move that reintroduced gender into the presidential race just as the Democrats worked to resolve a rift between the Obama camp and supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden, both called Palin to congratulate her on Friday. They also issued a joint statement that said her selection was "yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics." They called her "an admirable person and (she) will add a compelling new voice to this campaign."

Earlier, however, Obama spokesman Bill Burton released a statement calling Palin an abortion-rights opponent and "the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience."

Obama later blamed the message disparity on campaign "hair triggers." "The statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments," he said.

The McCain campaign rebutted the ad: "Barack Obama has proposed job killing tax increases while our economy is already hurting and his campaign launched dismissive political attacks against Governor Palin's executive state house and small town experience, despite his own lack of either," McCain spokesman Ben Porritt said.

Obama's economic plan includes tax increases for higher income taxpayers and a higher top rate on capital gains taxes, but tax cuts for low and middle income Americans.

As for the content of the ad, the reference to McCain "calling this broken economy strong" oversimplifies what McCain has said. In a recent radio interview, McCain said the "the fundamentals of our economy are strong." But he went on to say: "We've got terribly big challenges now, whether it be housing or employment. ... It's very, very tough times. It's very tough. But we're still the most innovative, the most productive, the greatest exporter, the greatest importer."

The Obama spot comes as the McCain campaign ramps up its own advertising.

McCain and the Republican National Committee planned to begin airing a new ad that depicts Obama as nothing more than an accomplished speaker, complete with scenes of his speech last month before a huge outdoor crowd in Germany.

Obama also began airing an ad Saturday in northeast Pennsylvania featuring Biden and his birthplace of Scranton, Pa. Biden is scheduled to campaign in Scranton Monday.

"It's good to be coming home and bringing home a friend," the ad says.

The spot underscores one of the ways the campaign intends to employ Biden _ as an ambassador to blue-collar enclaves in key battleground states and as a running mate who can address doubts working-class voters may have about the nominee.

An Obama ad that began airing in Michigan Saturday accuses McCain of turning his back on the auto industry _ a major employer in the state. Obama supports financing a $25 billion low-interest loan plan for the industry, that would be used to pay for plant modernization and to develop fuel-efficient cars.

McCain had opposed the loan, arguing that his $5,000 tax credits for consumers who buy fuel-efficient vehicles and a $300 million battery prize would accomplish the same goal.

But in a statement released a week ago, McCain reversed course: "I believe we should fund it and take action that will assist Detroit and its suppliers in making it through this difficult time of transition."

The Obama ad says McCain is now "just paying lip service, not talking straight."

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On the Web: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/nochange_ad/

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/scranton_ad/