The 9/11 truce ended at 5:54 a.m., with both campaigns releasing new ads (after the jump). This is Barack Obama's campaign's attempt to take control again and move on to the offensive; they're coupling it with a Joe Biden led surrogate operation. The first Obama ad is simple and direct: He's telling you what he'll change. It may be too simple, but it's smart because it quantifies change and dares John McCain to do the same; the Obama campaign doesn't think he can. The second ad is an attack on McCain for being out of touch -- he's been in Washington since 1982, can't use a computer, doesn't know anything about the economy, is the same as Bush, etc. It's got the usual tongue-in-cheek tone of Obama's attack ads but with more creative imagery.
The McCain camp's contribution is a typical one: Obama is going after their victim, Sarah Palin. Oh noes! Typically, quotes are taken out of context, and the fact that Sarah Palin really is a liar may not help if people feel bad for her. The question of the day: Will the media let the Obama campaign's offensive be the story? Or are they still more interested in Palin? I'm betting that it's an Obama day: nothing like a big push in reponse to internal concerns (it's a good process story). I'm betting reporters are tired of hearing McCain complain about Palin. The Obama camp has a press conference this morning that I'll report back on later; the questions the media asks may be more telling than whatever the presentation is.
--Tim Fernholz
