McCain's Latest Attack Ad: Starring Paris Hilton and Britney Spears?!

Posted by Jason Linkins, Huffington Post at 11:57 AM on July 30, 2008.

There's a fine line between smart and clever, and a similar border between clever and stupid, and John McCain's campaign ads keep on standing on all the wrong sides. In their desperate attempts to undo the success of the overseas trip that would probably have never happened if the McCain campaign hadn't dared the Obama team to take it in the first place, McCain's ad people have decided to attempt to try to play Obama's popularity as a bad thing - comparing the candidate to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. (Which is of real benefit to Spears and Hilton!)

But even beyond the numb-nutted concept behind this ad, look at all the things that are tactically wrong with it. First, it just reinforces Obama's brand as one with worldwide appeal. Second, it's, like, McCain's FOURTH ad that announces that Obama supports a sensible stance against offshore drilling - which isn't popular in states McCain needs to win, like Florida, and which McCain himself even admits would only have a "psychological" impact on the economy. Third, you don't even know it's a McCain ad until he shows up, approving it at the end!

(Catch the video on the flip!)

And let's get a count on how many McCain ideas and policies this ad advances! Uhm...zero. Actually, this might be the most honest feature of this advertisement! Anyway, we have to say, the RNC's Hasselhoff ad was much better, and that's sad.

[WATCH.]

Tagged as: obama, mccain, britney spears, paris hilton, attack ads

Jason Linkins is an associate editor at the Huffington Post, based in Washington, DC.