(CNN) – After a week of bare-knuckle political brawling on the trail, it seemed Friday John McCain’s campaign had found religion.
In a Web ad e-mailed to supporters, the McCain team painted Barack Obama as a recipient of near-messianic hype – and a candidate all-too-willing to believe it.
“It shall be known that in 2008 the world will be blessed. They will call him ‘The One,’” says the announcer in the minute-long video, over images of light shining from the heavens and a gospel music-like soundtrack, interspersed with clips drawn from Obama speeches.
“And he has anointed himself. Ready to carry the burden of The One,” continues the announcer. “He can do no wrong. Can you see the light?”
By the end of the ad, Obama seems to have received a promotion from mere Messiah to possible divinity: Charlton Heston’s Moses is shown parting the Red Sea, proclaiming “Behold His mighty hand!” as Obama’s presidential seal rises from the waters.
“Barack Obama may be the one. But is he ready to lead?” concludes the announcer.
On a flight to Panama City Florida, McCain senior adviser Nicolle Wallace told reporters that the video had been designed as a bookend to what the campaign believed had been a very successful week.
In a CNN poll of polls Friday, the Arizona senator cut Obama’s Monday lead by half, to three points.
Wallace added that the ad – which she described as respectful of all faiths - was intended to rally the presumptive Republican nominee’s supporters, and that there was an "important role for humor in all campaigns. I think all of us would slit our wrists if it wasn't for that."
From CNN Politics
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Yet another negative ad by the McCain camp. Wow! How pathetic.
Is John McCain _ever_ going to discuss issues or just continue to spew this nonsense? I guess McCain has 'issues' but doesn't want to talk about them.
Yes. Obama is ready to lead. The simplest definition of a leader is someone who gets others to follow. His popularity is evidence that he can do exactly that. He is a skilled speaker and had policies in detail on his web site. McCain, on the other hand, has trouble filling a room.
I thought I had seen next to anything...but this is just plain out disgusting. It's not funny, it's below the belt disgusting. I thought this could not get any lower.
Im neither for or against Obama at this point, but this campaign from McCain is making me staunchly anti-McCain.
Mccain him self should start believing in God. Surely the good lord will see that this is wrong and he will turn the tables on Mccain. What goes around comes around. I cant wait for this to come around to Mccain. The Mccain camp is about the dirtest campaign . And he sure does deserve it.
Bizarre, but I guess that's politics as usual.
Haha...that's pretty funny, actually.
McCain is an idiot.
that's not humor
that's INSULTING MOCKERY
go SLIT YOUR WRISTS NOW!
I'll bet all those right wing neocon evangelicals are gonna love this one – NOT!
The McLame political campaign's attempt at humor by mocking Obama at the expense of the core beliefs of this group is gonna backlash on them with this one.
Guess they figured that they have already lost this voting block and if the religious right gets their knickers in a knot over it McLame will just quote Chaney – "So"...
Obama, just keep talking about he issues. Mark my words all these negative ads will back fire. It might not show now in the polls but McCain will be suprised. He will have to pick up the phone at the end of it all and congratulate Mr. Obama which will translate to conceding.
Mr. Obama, be focused and keep stressing on the important issues.
THIS coming from a man who supported Bush who SAID GOD picked him to lead the country!? HAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAH
Seriously. This stuff is exhausting!!!
Way to go sour real fast.
Ridiculous. Is McCain desperate or what?!?! I am a Hillary Clinton supporter and will vote for Obama in November. I haven't seen this ad yet but is is really sicko if you ask me. But we all know that the Republicans will stoop to anything to try to get elected. I think we all learned our lesson by now by the current Administration. Don't want to go there again.
"important role for humor in all campaigns"
How about what Obama said the other day about not looking like the Presidents on dollar bills? That was a light-hearted comment that McCain took pretty serious, no? All of a sudden Obama is playing "the race card". What about what McCain is doing? I will be ashamed to be American if we elect someone who runs ads like McCain's.
The white folks are really showing there true colors now. The add is disgusting. What exactly are McCain's plans to solve our problems. I have not heard any substance from him.
Mr. McCain I though you were above this type of politics. You have just lost my vote good luck in Nov
Can this possible be true that the McCain campaign has resoirted to calling Obama the Anti-Christ? AND he likes arugula as well? How low will they go?
John McCain is really traveling down the wrong path with his campaign. Voters are going to start thinking he lost his mind with these ads against Obama or ........................... maybe he really thinks Obama is the #1 Celebrity or the new Messiah.
Senator McCain needs to start talking about his policies and ideas and quit worrying so much about Obama's status. He cannot do anything about it and these ads make him look deranged!
this is so wrong why is he going so neg i think he is going nuts we dont need this stuff i was going to vote for him but i will vote for obama 08
Obama is a mere 'hollow-gram'. No substance what-so-ever. Socialist bordering on communist. He would signal the end of 'yankee ingenuity' and turn all of us out on the 'reservation' with our hands out, begging for relief from big brother.
This is nothing but the same old from the Repubilcan't Right Wing religious folk. They want everyone in America to be evangelicals. Do As I Say, Not As I Do, cry the Repubs.. What we need in America is religion left out of politics and politics left out of religion ... The Repubs don't care about religious freedoms or MY right to not believe in religion. I am tired of anyone who says I have to believe in god, or jesus or who shoves religion down our throats. We have a separation of church and state in the constitution for a reason. Bush has violated the constitution by his faith based programs and faith based office in the W.H. McCain claimed today during a forum in Panama City, FL that he doesn't believe his ads are negative. He also got stumped by a woman asking a his record about helping minorities.. Took him 30 seconds to a minute to compose his thought then he asked her to repeat the question.. Senile!!
LOL!!!!!!!! That was a great ad for McCain! Finally! Obama has surely been acting like the presidency is something thats owed to him and he is acting like "the one"!
Low, low, low. Using religion to make a point!
THIS IS JUST TOO COOL!! YOU ROCK MCCAIN!
I spell mccain: S-H-M-U-C-K
Congratulations, McCain camp! Without any valid criticisms, you've resorted to childish implications that Obama has a messiah complex. You people are amazingly brilliant! It's sad, really, because this behavior was stupid even back in elementary school, where the perpetrators had the excuse of being 7 years old. McCain can't generate the same enthusiasm, so what else is there left to do but to resort to base mockery? Instead of spending millions enviously calling Obama names, why don't you try to make your platform more reasonable (i.e. copy Obama's). McCain, proud to act like a child when he obviously knows better. Yay, Republicans, do anything to win. Stay the course. The failed course.
If Obama is the One this surely makes McSame the -1 (negative one).
Hey Republicans you want four more years of Titantic-style leadership? Well I guess you think it'll be okay to have a Dumbya clone as Captain of the Ship of State since there won't be any icebergs left thanks to global warming.