WASHINGTON - Barack Obama can’t seem to please the folks running John McCain’s campaign for the U.S. presidency.
They criticized the Democratic candidate for not visiting Iraq, but then he spent nine days abroad, visited both fronts in the U.S. war on terror, didn’t make any fatal 
mistakes and drew 200,000 people to a speech in Berlin.
Now the Republican’s campaign has a new beef against the Illinois senator — he’s way too popular, the most popular celebrity in the world, bigger even than Britney Spears or Paris Hilton.
It’s a point McCain makes in a new TV advertisement.
“I would say that it’s beyond dispute that he has become the biggest celebrity in the world. It’s a statement of fact. It’s backed up by the reality of his tour around the world,” McCain adviser Steve Schmidt told reporters in a conference call.
“They have more fans around the world than Britney Spears does. I make that bold blank statement,” added McCain campaign manager Rick Davis.
But McCain traveled around the world and met leaders too, so isn’t he a global celebrity as well? What’s the difference?
“We see him more as a global leader than a global celebrity,” Davis said. “When people in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, want to talk to somebody who has a leadership and knowledge of positions around the world, they talk to John McCain. I contrast that with Barack Obama’s own trip to Europe. The focus on media, the focus on events and activities, is much more something you would expect from someone releasing a new movie than running for president.”
McCain’s crew sees devious motives behind the cultivation of popularity. Davis said it lets Obama “create a fan base around the world that allows him to get a lot of media attention and avoids him having to address the important issues of our time.”
But won’t people see the ad as negative campaigning?
Barack Obama started it, Davis said. He attacks McCain harshly every day on the campaign trail. Plus he was the first to turn to negative advertising, both in the primary and in the general election.
“I’m going to do everything in my power to protect my candidate,” Davis said.
“I’m going to let the American public decide what is negative or not negative.”
So what do you think, is it a fair ad or not?
Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.
Photo credit: Reuters/Jim Young (Crowds cheer Obama outside No. 10 Downing St. in London on July 26); Reuters/Brian Snyder (McCain speaks at campaign evenint in Maine July 21)
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I am sorry folks I believe this ad is great. Obama is appealing to that Britney Spears, Paris Hilton electorate and if your insulted that the Republicans are pointing it out I’m sorry. I feel it is probably the best and most accurate depiction of what and how Obama is handling this election I have seen to date. My hats off to the producer. They deserve a raise. He is in front of the media every opportunity he can get. He loves playing the Rock star. This ad pegged Obama to a tee and the Democrats are TICKED OFF about it! I love it!
By the way I don’t care what the rest of the world thinks of me. I am an American, not an European and I certainly don’t want MY President making decisions about AMERICA to win a popularity contest overseas.
- Posted by BeenatthiswaytoolongThat went over well! I simply asked for help in validating or invalidating the email. And I got it. That, my squirrely friends, is the extent of my ‘research’ into it. As for despising Obama, that is my privelege, my right, just as it is your’s to kiss his ass. As an added note, I don’t really care for McCain, either. In all my years (quite a few), I’ve not had the utter sense of disdain for a presidential candidate as I have discovered with Obama. McCain, on the other hand, would not be my first choice, either. If truth be known, I am apolitical - I simply don’t care for Democrats or Republicans, only about the promises kept.
- Posted by WGWhat can I say to make John McCain feel better? Dear John, I always did love that photo of you in your Navy pilot uniform suit holding your helmut. I remember that Navy pilots were quite admired during the years of the Vietnam war, especially by the gals. My niece snagged herself a Navy pilot who flew missions over Vietnam, and really cried when her Navy pilot didn’t hang around to get married to her. You made quite a career for yourself in the Senate as the Senator from Arizona. You certainly are still going strong. Well, anyway, please don’t let Barack Obama get underneath your skin. Everybody has their right to run for President of the United States and certainly so do you. You being a warrior figure and a Republican politician know, I guess, that in a fight, you have to go for the jugular.
- Posted by Carole H.I just hope that America isn’t really dumb enough to want 4 more years of Bush’s failed policies and the continued hatred of the U.S. by most of the world. On the issues, Obama wins hands down. We have a real chance to turn this country around now. Do everything in your power to get more voters registered and get them to the polls to elect Obama as our next President. If we don’t change course now, America will collapse in financial ruin.
- Posted by AnnWhat does greatness look like? now lets just assume Mccain was not running against Barack but another person. Now imagine this person could be one of the greatest presidents of all time. A leader, somebody who will go down in history books as a legend. What kind of reception do you think the world will give him? What do you think the opposition in his way will say to try and win? I think we are witnessing history in the making.
- Posted by natheyaIf voters choose McCain, which is not in the best interest of our country or the world for that matter, then SADLY we will get what we deserve. It happened both times with Bush…maybe McCain should choose GW as his VP running mate, then appoint Cheney as his Sec. of Def., David Addington as his Sec. of State, Wolfowitz as NSA and John Yoo to the Supreme Court.
Obama ‘08
- Posted by RD in New Britainalso, what is obama’s plan for oil prices? oh wait…he doesn’t have one. maybe wind powered cars!! or solar powered cars!! we need oil for now until we find another way to power these things. use your brain people. if it takes 15-20 years to find another source of energy, what are we gonna do in the meantime? can any of you say that oil prices are gonna be cheaper in that time? no, not if we don’t drill here and stoop relying on foreign countries. use your brains people…most of you aren’t as dumb as your comments make you seem, you are just brain washed by the mainstream media.
- Posted by MIKEi hate all you ignorant liberal morons. george w. bush is great! the economy has flourished under his presidency. we have had record economic growth while he was in office. look at the facts you morons. if any of you had any common sense you would understand the the economy has gone down hill since the democrats took control of the house and congress and they veto every bill he puts foward. under a republican house, congress and presidency the economy was great. and as unpopular as he is, i guess you idiots don’t look at congress’s poll numbers…i think last time i checked it was 9%!!!! yes folks the democratic congress was in the single digits!!!
- Posted by MIKE