Obama ad hits back at McCain 'celebrity' claim

Washington, Aug.12 : Senator Barack Obama has hit back at his Republican rival Senator John McCain with a new negative TV ad that paints the latter as a star too cozy with Washington lobbyists and an unpopular president.

According to the Washington Times, the Obama ad, called "Embrace," shows McCain hugging President Bush and walking down the street with what the narrator labels "the lobbyists running his low road campaign."

"For decades, he's been Washington's biggest celebrity," the narrator says as the screen flashes shots of McCain getting a rousing welcome while appearing on popular TV shows like "Late Night with David Letterman" and "The View."

Obama has been on both shows.

With a shot of Bush kissing McCain on the head, the narrator says, "And as Washington embraced him, John McCain hugged right back."

The ad accuses the Republican of wanted to give "billions in tax breaks" for oil and drug companies, while flashing the words "Nothing for you" on the screen.

It concludes with footage of McCain on "Saturday Night Live," with the caption: "A Washington celebrity playing the same old Washington games."

The Obama campaign said the 30-second spot will start running on national cable Tuesday while the Illinois senator vacations in Hawaii.

It follows several attempts by Team McCain to portray Obama as a vapid megastar unqualified to lead the nation. One Republican ad shows the Democrat along with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, and it became a YouTube sensation. It prompted Miss Hilton to hit back with her own tongue-in-cheek response.

McCain advisers dismissed the ad as they released a new Web ad that portrayed Mr. Obama as someone with a rock star presence that "hot chicks dig."

ANI