BY TAYLOR MARSH
“I’d love to think John McCain is a big international celebrity, but he isn’t.” – Rick Davis
“Obama has become the biggest celebrity in the world. … But is he ready to lead yet?”, asked Steve Schmidt, when joining the call a bit later. That’s the point the McCain team hopes to drive home with the ad.
Rick Davis and the McCain campaign had a media call earlier today to talk about their new ad “Celeb.” This post offers liveblogging notes on the call.
Davis started the call by explaining the ad back and forth between the campaigns. “This ad also addresses a unique facet” of the campaign, “an enormous image of celebrity status.” Going on: The point we’re making is that these images of celebrity status and the way he’s conducted his campaign… owe more to the development of an international celebrity status” than a traditional presidential campaign. Other celebrities are woven into the ad, making the point that celebrity is taking front and center. “A man who’s got fans all over the world,” said Davis. “It shows a contrast on who is ready to lead.”
McCain message: Adoring fans v. having a political movement that offers solutions. McCain is talking to average Americans.
Dana Bash of CNN asked about Sarkozy’s response to Obama, talking about Obama “releasing a movie.” Since Sarkozy talked about looking forward to when Obama is president. Davis called it Obama’s “world tour.”
Kelly O’Donnell of NBC news asked about the polling and focus group work done on words like “celebrity” and “presumptuousness.” Davis said it doesn’t take much introspection or focus group work to get this conclusion. “This stunt” is the type of campaign Obama is running, focusing the world on the “magnificent crowds” he’s getting. They do a “wonderful job” in placing their candidate in the most positive light. We’re just using their own imagery to enforce the point. Is it about “celebrity” or who “the leader of the free world will be.” Obama has “more fans than Britney Spears does.”
David Wright of ABC news asked why these particular celebrities were chosen? Aren’t folks going to see this as more negativity? They tried to find the top three celebrities in the world. “It’s the most entertaining thing I’ve seen on TV in a while. … This is the event he put on.” There is a difference between McCain’s solutions v. what Obama is against.
A reporter from the NY Post asked about the celebrities chosen not being the most positive role models. These celebrities are “frivolous and irresponsible.” Are you saying Obama is both? This is “apples to apples,” the McCain team responded. McCain team again said: “Just because you’re celebrity doesn’t mean you’re ready to lead.” They’re point, McCain is ready to lead.
As for the negativity tag, according to the McCain camp, Obama attacks McCain every day on the stump. Obama launched the first negative ad. McCain’s team is going to define the race as it is.
Why isn’t Obama winning by more? Bottom line from the McCain camp: Do the American people want to elect the biggest celebrity in the world or a war hero?
Here’s the Obama team’s response to the ad:
“On a day when major news organizations across the country are taking Senator McCain to task for a steady stream of false, negative attacks, his campaign has launched yet another. Or, as some might say, ‘Oops! He did it again.’ Our dependence on foreign oil is one of the greatest challenges we face. In this election the American people have a real choice — between Obama’s plan to provide tax rebates to American families while creating a renewable energy economy in America that frees us from our dependence on foreign oil, and Senator McCain’s plan to continue the same failed energy policies by handing out nearly $4 billion in tax breaks to oil companies while investing almost nothing in the new energy sources that represent our future,” said Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor.
Excuse me, but that’s it? Team Obama will have to do a lot better than this response to combat the imagery laid down by McCain’s team. Memo to Obama & Co.: They’re defining your candidate. They’re also laughing at him, while inviting the American voter to do the same. Wake up.
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