One-minute long political web ads have one primary audience, aside from political junkies: the press.

Like another recent spot from John McCain's campaign -- "Broken" -- their latest seems intended to burnish the Arizona Republican's "Maverick" credentials among journalists who could be starting to wonder whether he's become just another regular hack politician in light of recent harsh attacks on Barack Obama.

So the campaign brings us a piece called "Praising John McCain," which features a...