McCain’s Latest Attack on Obama Seems Not at All Desperate

Barack Obama's world tour is over, and by most accounts it was pretty successful (Gallup's daily tracking poll shows a nice bounce). But the McCain campaign has found a way to rain on Obama's parade, with a new ad, "Troops," that slams the Democratic nominee for canceling a visit to wounded American soldiers in Germany. Obama had planned to visit the troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, but after the Pentagon voiced concern about the appropriateness of bringing a campaign staffer with him, Obama decided the event had become too politicized. In the ad, a narrator says that Obama "made time to go to the gym, but canceled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras. John McCain is always there for our troops." The ad has been criticized on a number of fronts: While Obama does seem to spend a bizarre amount of time in the gym, he didn't actually go to the gym instead of visiting the troops in Landstuhl. Plus, the ad actually shows a photo of Obama playing basketball with American troops … which would seem to undercut the idea that Obama is too busy to meet with the troops. To some, the ad simply smacks of desperation.