Obama keeps up 'same' attack on McCain Nick Juliano

Published: Tuesday September 2, 2008





Print This Email This Ending a detente to partisan politicking observed as Hurricane Gustav ravaged the Gulf Coast, Barack Obama's campaign unveiled a sharp new television ad arguing that John McCain would represent a continuation of President Bush's policies.



The ad superimposes the words "The Same" in large block letters over photos of Bush and McCain embracing, smiling, shaking hands, laughing and talking to reporters before replaying a clip of McCain boasting that he voted with the president more than 90 percent of the time.



Although it posted the ad to YouTube on Saturday, Obama's campaign did not begin purchasing air time until Tuesday, the first full day of the Republicans' convention. The ad will run on national cable networks.



A female announcer tells viewers that Bush and McCain "share the same out of touch attitude ... the same tax cuts for huge corporations ... the same plan to spend $10 billion a month in Iraq."



Sounding similar themes of an ad unveiled last week after McCain announced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. That ad also highlighted McCain's Bush connections and Iraq spending plans.



After polls earlier this year showed that the president was among McCain's biggest liability heading into this year's election, tying the two to each other has proved to be the most consistent line of attack from Obama -- who has made "change" the theme of his campaign -- and the Democratic party.



In releasing an ad at the beginning of the Republican convention, Obama is following an example McCain set last week, when he launched a rehash of Hillary Clinton's infamous 3 a.m. ad as Democrats were gathering in Denver.



Obama's campaign began airing "Same" on Tuesday (full script below):







BARACK: Im Barack Obama and I approved this message.



ANNCR: They share the same out of touch attitude.



The same failure to understand the economy.



The same tax cuts for huge corporations and the wealthiest one percent.



The same questionable ties to lobbyists.



The same plan to spend ten billion a month in Iraq when we should be rebuilding America.



McCAIN: I voted with the president over 90 percent of the time, higher than a lot of my even Republican colleagues.



ANNCR: We just cant afford more of the same.





