Obama's Ads in Key States Go on Attack

Sen Barack Obama (D-IL) has started a sustained and hard-hitting advertising campaign against Sen John McCain (R-AZ) in states that will be vital this fall, painting Sen McCain in a series of commercials as disconnected from the economic struggles of the middle class. Sen Obama has begun the drive with little fanfare, often eschewing the modern campaign technique of unveiling new spots for the news media before they run in an effort to win added (free) attention. Sen Obama, whose candidacy has been built in part on a promise to transcend traditional politics, is running the negative commercials on local stations even as he runs generally positive spots nationally, during prime-time coverage of the Olympics. The negative spots reflect the sharper tone Sen Obama has struck in recent days on the stump as he heads into his party's nominating convention in Denver next week, and seem to address the anxiety among some Democrats that Mr. Obama has not answered a volley of attacks by Sen McCain with enough force.