The TV Ad Wars Conclude

Barack Obama's positive closer ad.

The TV ad wars between Barack Obama and John McCain are finally coming to an end. Obama is closing out with a ton of positive advertising, leavened with deft negatives linking McCain to President Bush and his failed economic policies, in a pair of ads that began running around the country on Friday. McCain has been mostly negative, befitting his trailing position in the race, though he has a positive closer ad. Nevertheless, despite his pledge this spring not to make Rev. Jeremiah Wright an issue in the campaign, at least one official organ of the party he now heads is running a hit spot on Wright.

Barack Obama's negative closer ad, emphasizing John McCain's professed economic ignorance, ties to President Bush, and choice of (a winking) Sarah Palin for his running mate.

Above you see Obama using the unsuccessful choice of Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate as a way to further undermine McCain's judgment on the economy. But Obama is emphasizing a message of positive uplift as he closes out the campaign. In contrast to say, Sarah Palin, who on the stump earlier today wondered if Obama "think the terrorists are the good guys."

Barack Obama's campaign is delighted by Dick Cheney's public declaration of support for John McCain, in this latest attack ad.

Not that Team O wasn't delighted by the weekend declaration in Wyoming by Vice President Cheney -- his favorable rating makes Bush seem a candidate for Mount Rushmore -- that McCain is the best man for the presidency. They were quick to rush out the ad you see above.

Something called the National Republican Trust has this new ad running around the country, bringing up Rev. Jeremiah Wright's statements to brand Obama as "too radical, too risky."

Meanwhile, although McCain refused to throw the Wright Stuff -- the notorious statements of Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright -- at the front-runner, an independent outfit is making hay down the stretch with nasty Wright ads. They previously ran stuff on ex-Weather Undergrounder Bill Ayers -- a non-starter issue -- and drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. The right-wing NewsMax operation is promoting fundraising for the ads with national appeals to the right-wing blogosphere. Including, amusingly, missives pleading for money just in the last hour, as though there is any time left to buy at this late point in the campaign.

The Pennsylvania Republican Party has a new ad attacking Obama for his ties to Wright.

And McCain is not putting a stop to the Pennsylvania Republican Party doing the same thing, even though he's the national head of the party and he stopped other state parties from similar activity. Pennslvania, not coincidentally, is the one blue state McCain must win in order to have a shot at the presidency. It's not happening.

McCain's campaign has diverted resources from its ground game into an attempt to begin to match Obama on the air for the last few days. But it's not turning out that way, with Obama still out-gunning McCain better than 2 to 1. But it may have been the best move anyway, since volunteers appear to be in short supply for the Republican ticket.

John McCain's positive closer ad.

McCain's positive closer ad is an honorable effort, highlighting his long years of distinguished service to the nation in the Navy and in Congress. It's very familiar to those of us who've been following his advertising. No new ground, but a good taste in the mouth after a lot of sourness.

This new John McCain attack ad on Barack Obama posits him as a dupe for Islamic jihadists like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Who isn't actually the real power in Iran.

The negative ad, which seeks to position Obama as a coddler of Islamic jihadists such as the new boogeyman, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is another matter. (Funny how nobody is complaining about the actual leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Is it because some on the far right falsely reported that he died in January 2007?)

In this funhouse view, Obama's willingness to meet with foreign leaders without preconditions is merely a jumping-off point for a half-minute of terror. As if a president with PR chops can't make a fool of a tinpot tyrant if need be.

All indications are that Barack Hussein Obama will have the chance to find out as the next President of the United States.

You can check things out throughout the day on my site, New West Notes.

Comments

[abmabardy]

Election day.

The Wright ad is running non-stop on several TV stations here in ... MASSACHUSETTS!
I laugh. Let'm spend their money! Less to contribute where people might actually buy into the smears.
Sad day for McCain, though. A once honorable man whose ego drove him to sell out and use any means, however devious and despicable, to get his time in the White House. How many men been in his position and made the exact opposite choice, not to sell out, rather to retain their integrity and their honor, to serve in some other capacity, truly putting "country first"? Powell comes to mind.
Also sad that so many Americans are so blinded and in some cases brainwashed by partisan ideology and relentless neocon propoganda that they cannot see what is right before them, this incredible young man, Barack Obama, whose intellect, reasonableness, and wisdom coupled with passionate patriotism and a rare ability to unite and inspire, are exactly what America so desperately needs right now.
Let's see if all these neocons will now "get behind their president", as they have urged us all to do for the past eight years.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Well, as I said.

Not to worry.

[notahippie]

Read the Wright transcripts. He's quoting the US UN ambassador. He has a very biblical arguement.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm fairly certain that no US ambassador to the UN EVER SAID GOD DAMN AMERICA!

[webgoddess]

What a waste of money: running the Rev. Wright ad on MSNBC during Countdown and Rachel Maddow! In that context, these ads act more as an endorsement for Obama.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

I think they are messing with you. It's obvious those ads aren't influencing anyone to vote for McCain.

[Nonpartay]

And I just saw the Wright/risky ad on CNN, so it's not quite over yet. :(

[KansasWrangler]

Still seeing the GOPtrust Wright ads running...on election day! Really desperate.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

They ran just enough to justify conning the far right base out of still more money ...

[Rubuntu]

Concluded? Its 11.55am here in heavy Democratic NY and we being still being bombed with Wright ads on every major network since this late last night

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Clearly, they are messing with you.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

A general comment, looking at the posts here.

Everyone should relax.

Work hard.

And vote.

[GrkAm]

It's not soon enough!! I was under the impression that political ads ceased on election day. Not so. I keep the "mute" button ready for my TV and have used it several times already this morning. McCain will continue to post his most negative ads all day, I just know it!

I have watched the countries that Bill Maher has showcased as favorite places to move to, and if McCain wins it means the end of this country as I have grown up in and loved!

To those haven't voted, it's in your hands. Do the right thing!

OBAMA to the White House

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Ads used to stop on election day. Candidates used to stop campaigning on election eve. No more.

[TRIATHLON]

CHANGE COMMUNISM VS THE UNITED STATES (END PART)

It is a breath of fresh air to have someone in government admit the truth and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, of California intentionally or not, spoke the truth there is more CHANGE in the Communist system of government than in the antique out dated non-progressive (18th) Century United States System of Government. There will be a new individual name to be President, but the (18th) Century government and system will remain, UNCHANGEABLE.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Uh, thanks.

[TRIATHLON]

Uh, thanks FOR NOTHING!

That's for nothing not living up to the ideas of those who were responsible for the design of the United States Constitution John Locke of Common Sense and Thomas Jefferson who said every (20) twenty years tear it down and start over. Thanks for Grid-Lock, Thanks for Nixon Resigning, Thanks for Bill Clinton being Impeached, Thanks for Nancy Pelosi not Impeaching Bush, Thanks for the melt-down of Wall St., Thanks for taxpayers having to pay for Goldern Parachutes, thanks for nothing. And, the idea is what, a majority of one party over the other, and that is what, COMMUNISM a one party state?
Ya! Duh thanks!

[radnip]

Um, move? We like our system. Go away.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Ridiculous.

[roch20]

MSNBC has runned the Rev. Wright Ad for the entire day yesterday, it's disgusting!!!! I've voted for Barack Obama just now!!!

[rachel2012]

I know lot of Rev. Wright's rhetorics are typical fire-and-brimstone stuff, yet I can't help but realize in light of all the recent events dometic and international how accurate and prescient his words cocnering the state of America were/are (i.e. chickens coming home to roost.) The much hailed policies of Reaganomics ...hmmm... the beginning of the end.

[2cntswrth]

I agree. We all love our country. Rev. Wright served his country in the military and has served his community for many years. He has nothing to do with this election--nor is he influencing Barack Obama. Whether or not we agree with his style of preaching or choice of verbiage says really nothing about him or Barack Obama, but more about what we think and believe as individuals. It would be stupid to assume that all the man ever said in his sermons was G-D America! My goodness, lots of preachers say controverial stuff (both in White and Black churches). We've all heard the clips from Hagee, Parsley, and Wright--as well as Palin's church. This tasteless attack ends up in some sick misguided way targeting the church---not Obama. It is divisive, racial, and hateful---at a time when we need healing. It won't help McCain, nor will it hurt Obama. All it does is hurt America.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

It's advertising. They make money from it. It has no impact on the election other than to mess with the heads of the left.

[krocklin]

We will know when we are living in an informed and truly principled nation when candidates like Palin and McCain are rejected out of hand by the electorate and Media .
Their smear tactics, like those of the hatemongering pitbulls on radio, would never be tolerated in a country and Media that demanded candidates driven by legitimate issues.
We will have become a good nation only when we don't tolerate the kind of mendacity, divisiveness and intolerance they represent.

[Phil Waste]

You hit the nail on the head. Doesn't it make you wonder how the solid right wing base is made up of Evangelicals who claim to believe in Christ and live in and for him yet join in the hate and fear campaigns of the Republians. What is wrong with this picture?

[radnip]

We are human though. We will always make mistakes and have fears.

We can only hope that we can overcome them and come together to become more understanding of one another. Sometimes it just takes a bit more time than others.

[exredstater]

It is no surprise that the John McCain - Sarah Palin ticket has gone increasingly negative down the home stretch. They really don"t have any other options to close the gap. However, a new negative advertisement is particularly disturbing in its hypocrisy.

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Leaked_Ad_for_McCain_Palin_Abstinence_Only_for_America

Sarah Palin has consistently advocated abstinence-only education in schools, despite the fact that this philosophy has resulted with both Palin and her daughter conceiving out of wedlock. Clearly, abstinence-only has not worked for the Palin family, yet Sarah Palin wants to prescribe this in place of comprehensive sexual education for other young Americans.

This advertisement came from the same 527 group that put forth this anti-Obama spot last week¦

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Leaked_Pro_McCain_527_Negative_Ad_Small_Town_Fear_Itself/

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Palin's prescriptions don't seem to apply to her.

[billbb]

People have become a little more sophisticated since video has become so omni-present in our lives. It is pretty easy to take bits and pieces of public speeches and turn their meaning around. Heck, that's what Drudge does for a living.

Let's look at another dangerous candidate, whose words show that he is not fit for public office: He wants to expand the American brand by subjugating people around the world: "I cannot make it better known than it already is that I strongly favor colonization." He is a racist: "I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever
forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality." He's against religion: "That I am not a member of any Christian Church, is true." And he hates America: "I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty -- to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy."

Those bits are from another lawyer from Illinois, one Abraham Lincoln. Taken in sound bite quotes and wildly out of context, they can be made to sound pretty bad. A perfect example of how this garbage is foisted on us, since most people don't bother to find out for themselves. And an example of the danger of microquotes used to distort the meaning of someone's life.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes.

[NotMcCain]

Who's the money behind the "National Republican Trust PAC"? That's what I'd like to know.

McCain takes $84 Million of taxpayer money, then gets hundreds of millions in ads and services from PACs and the RNC.

Real "Campaign finance reform" there. (Rolls eyes).

[krocklin]

There is an entire array of Texan oil billionaire ultra rightwing fanatics who finance most of the pitbull attacks you see on Democrats. Scaife is just one of them.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

It's a 527 committee. Democrats used them very extensively in 2004.

[Cdub2112]

These ads are setting the stage for the knuckle-dragging mouth-breathing low-brows to incite v.iolence for the impending Obama victory. Mc.Cain can win because IMO it is still a tight race & I believe that many people have not been square with the pollsters & I do not trust the G.O.P. Just look at their latest series of ads. Typical G.O.P. tactics. They have been doing this as long as I can remember.

They can call Obama the nastiest things in the world & they can besmirch him all they want, but when it is all over, they can call him one more thing:

MR. PRESIDENT

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

There will be a rejectionist narrative on the right claiming that Obama's victory is just a huge scam and conspiracy.

The thinking is quite, ah, imaginative ...

[Passenger57]

One official organ is running the Wright ad...and we all know what organ THAT is!!!
On Election Eve,these Republicans apparently think they're not covered in enough sewage,so they blorp this ad all over TV.
I hope after Obama wins, McCain gets hammered by the media about his bottomed-out, septic tank, low-road, fear-mongering, trash-heap, gutter ball, stinkpot campaign.

[William Bradley - Huffpost Blogger]

The National Republican Trust and NewsMax are making money off the hard right base of the party.