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New McCain Ad Says Obama Like Britney, Paris

He's a celebrity but unqualified to lead, it says

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 30, 2008 4:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – A new ad from the McCain campaign deems Obama the “biggest celebrity in the world” while flashing images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, Time reports. While mocking his rock-star status with other images from his trip to Europe, it asks, "But is he ready to lead?" The Obama camp responded that McCain has launched “yet another…false, negative attack. Or, as some might say, ‘Oops! He did it again.’”

McCain’s campaign manager defended the ad, saying, “I think there’s an expectation that the American people, not the French president, will decide who the next president is going to be.” But a chief strategist for Obama, said, “It makes you wonder who’s behind all this because this isn’t the John McCain we expected.” And Obama himself belittled the GOP ploy at a rally, saying it follows the same old "he's too risky" argument.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

Campaign buttons for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

In this Dec. 1, 2007 file photo, singer Britney Spears. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, file)

This Sept. 1, 2007, file photo shows Britney Spears arriving for the grand opening party of LAX nightclub at the Luxor hotel-casino in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

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New McCain Ad Says Obama Like Britney, Paris