I'm wondering if the Obama campaign has considered doing some TV ads that have Obama standing with police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical folks, etc. as they talk about why they and their organizations are supporting Obama?  At the end of that portion of the ad Obama could join hands with, say, a police officer on one side and a fire fighter (better if one female and one male, and one a minority and the other white) on the other side of him (with  the others joining hands as well) and saying something like "Together, America is strong."  This last part could be seen by some as a little hokey but I wouldn't put it past the Obama ad makers to make it very powerful.

 

*Work the words "trust Obama" into the script.

 

*Maybe throw in a sentence and/or graphic if they can identify something McCain didn't do, and that Obama did do, in the Senate, to enhance our security. 

 

*Maybe throw in a sentence and/or graphic quoting the McCain spokesperson who said talking about the economy wasn't working and they needed to change the subject. 

 

*Maybe end with a closeup of Obama in closing looking into the camera and telling the viewer that, having no positive message or ideas for how to make our country stronger and better, my opponent throws away his honor and resorts to false and malicious attacks intended to fool and scare the voters. 

 

*Have him close by saying I trust you, the American people, to see through these false attacks and make the right decision on Election Day.  

 

The graphics and subtext on something like that could be effective. 

 

Just thinking out loud here--I claim no special expertise in how to do effective campaign ads.  Because I have none.  Just trying to think through what might work with me if I were undecided, wavering, persuadable.  I think I'd grant the most credibility to the folks in my community and my state and my country whose lives are on the line based on the decisions our leaders make and don't make.

If you have an idea or a thought you want to toss out please feel free...