Obama Ad Takes On McCain's Energy Plans

Senator Barack Obama has begun his first negative television advertising campaign of the general election, calling Senator John McCain “part of the problem” of high gas prices. This commercial opens with the image of President Bush and Mr. McCain together, with an overlay of bold red letters announcing “No New Oil for Seven Years.” Campaign aides say the spot is in direct response to the ad being run against Mr. Obama in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan by an independent arm of the Republican National Committee. (The R.N.C. is only allowed to coordinate a limited amount of advertising with the McCain campaign under campaign finance rules. But it can run its own spots as it sees fit through an independent advertising unit that cannot consult with party executives in making its creative and strategic decisions.) The... [read full story]