This seems like a misfire by the McCain campaign. A few reasons: 1) It was released while the debate was ongoing. How exactly did John McCain "approve this ad?" 2) Because they only had three counts of Obama agreeing with McCain, the ad feels like thin gruel. Obama comes off as gracious, not as a mimic. Clinton did a much better version of this ad during the primaries. Watch it, and try to imagine if it would have worked with only three scenes. 3) These are places where McCain and Obama agree. It's a bit odd to suggest that Obama shares McCain's (presumably correct) agenda but isn't ready to lead. Is McCain also not ready? Should we vote Nader? 4) The existence of this ad will further one of the main storylines emerging from the debate: McCain was contemptuous and ungracious towards his opponent, unable to so much as look him in the eye. Meanwhile, the McCain campaign is trying to attack Obama for being respectful, and for voicing agreement with McCain when he sensed common ground? It's not a contrast that helps McCain. When Tucker Bounds takes to the cable channels tomorrow and is questioned about his boss's aggression, he won't be able to draw equivalence with Obama. After all, the McCain campaign itself released a video mocking Obama's conciliatory bearing.
