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McCain's 'TMZ Campaign' Is Risky Business

Candidate bets America's celebrity resentment outweighs admiration

By Greg Wasserstrom, Newser User

Posted Aug 15, 2008 5:09 PM CDT

(Newser) – John McCain's attack ads on the "biggest celebrity in the world" depend on Americans loving to hate stars more than they admire them, writes James Poniewozik in Time. If the tactic works, it will shift Barack Obama’s best asset into a Republican secret weapon—but "snark aside, Americans still like celebrities." Obama’s job is now to define what kind of celebrity he is going to be.

"Less Britney, more Bono or Brangelina," writes Poniewozik, who says Obama's DNC speech must pave the way. "Like an arena rocker,” the nominee must woo the whole crowd, from "hipsters who think his early stuff was better to the mainstreamers just discovering him."

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John McCain has charged Barack Obama with banking on his status as an international celebrity in the presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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John McCain Celebrity Ad - Feat. Paris Hilton:Negative Ad campaign against Obama. (fdh413)

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The McCain of 2008, however, is a recovering celebrity, and he has discovered that fame is a terrible thing. -

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McCain's 'TMZ Campaign' Is Risky Business