I apologise for the slightly jumbled thoughts, I was covered by kittens trying to write this quick.

I would tend to agree with your sentiment, and offer a refinement that "negative" ads come in two flavours: smart and just mean. Most of the time when one says Obama should "go negative," it is interpreted as being mean and nasty, as the Republicans are. Even an exceptionally clever put-down is only that.

Negative ads can be scathing, hard-hitting and fair--and be made come off that way. Unfortunately there are very few Democratic adpersons with the requisite skills; there are some, most recently of the Clinton campaign, who can do the brutish and juvenile GOP-style. Obama's people seem a bit timid although I think Obama himself delivers some destructive lines--but too subtly. I think they only recognize the two options of the absurd "what happened to the politics of hope" inanities and the complete ignore-mode.

We can find that appropriate voice. The thing is, it will take some calibrating and a presidential campaign is not the best place to explain the over- and underreaches that are bound to happen. Despite this, it might be worth going for.

Obama should stick McCain to Britney & Paris - and keep on doing it til he explodes. Which, he will. Like you say, use their words & his, back-to-back. McCain SAID it was just a joke, and HE created the linkage, so now... you've got a whole world of stupid to open on his ass. Your basic 12 year old could do this. (That's a compliment, Des.)

Maybe even better, since McCain brought the TWO of them in, make their words his and Bush's. Like Bush & McCain sharing birthday cake during Katrina. Paris Hilton quote? “The way I see it, you should live everyday like its your birthday."

Or start using her catchphrase "That's HOT!" as McCain's response to Bush's various screw-up's.... Like, let's invade Iraq.

Or McCain meeting Bush at the White House - “It's really exciting, ... I've been wanting to do this forever, and now it's finally coming together. I'm so happy.”

The material runs forever.... “There's no master plan! I'm just gonna be me and hope it all works out!”... “I'm attracted to guys who are really confident and make conversation.”

Get people to dress up like the two, and visit McCain. Better yet, send them to Obama's rallies - and let Obama riff off them.

I dig what you and Bob be sayin'!

Or... my sentiments exactly:

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/barack-in-trouble-no-really-ev.php

rec'd!

So we complain about Rove's tactics, but we want Rove's opponents to adopt them? The principal reason Obama appeals to so many is that he proposes an entirely different political ambience, one that rejects what so many of his putative supporters urge on him. America will be a better place if all follow Obama's example.

It's always tempting to strike back when struck. I think it's always worth exploring all options, but somehow I've found that Obama does have the ability to push back with intelligence and derision toward their idiocy, as he did today in Ohio: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/05/obama-calls-mccain-out-af_n_117142.html

But I also agree that he needs ads running that are as iconic and memorable as McCains, but in his case, also intelligent, on topic and relevant to the issues. It takes more skill to do a campaign based on truth and issues instead of on childish attacks. It's clear that the Republicans are experts at childishness.

Obama is not Kerry. It's also early, it's the silly summer season, the Olympics are about to suck up bandwidth (and Obama is going to be advertising), and the conventions are around the corner. It's not time to panic or start citing polls comparing this race to previous ones.

It's nerve wracking, I agree. I think Obama should be way ahead, and seeing McCain's stupidity, with a lot of MSM help, apparently succeed in raising his stock is sickening, and a horrible comment on our electoral process.

But I also believe it will wear thin over time and Obama's much cleaner approach and much more scathing and intelligent counterattacks will change things.

I would never discount the depths that the Republicans will go, nor their ability to affect public opinion, but I still think we should find a way to do it with our integrity intact and while still wearing our grown-up pants.