http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NrQ36Djf2E
Fox News
In a blistering new ad, John McCain’s campaign accused Barack Obama of passing over Hillary Clinton as his running mate because she pointed out his flaws during the Democratic primaries.
Obama announced Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential pick Saturday, following reports that Clinton was not even vetted for the job.
McCain’s ad capitalizes on the lingering tension between Obama and Clinton’s supporters, with just one day remaining until the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
“She won millions of votes. But isn’t on his ticket. Why? For speaking the truth,” the narrator in the ad says.
The ad then quotes Clinton criticizing Obama for being vague and “increasingly negative.”
“The truth hurt. And Obama didn’t like it,” the narrator says.
Clinton’s supporters have had mixed reactions over Obama’s selection of Biden, but some felt flat-out dissed – even though in recent weeks, few insiders believed Clinton to be a realistic choice for Obama.
Some Clinton supporters even speculated that the Obama campaign delivered the text message announcing his decision at 3 a.m. as payback for Clinton’s primary-season “3 a.m.” ad questioning his judgment in a crisis.
McCain’s ad not only targets Clinton’s disenchanted supporters, but it also plays into his theme that Obama is a fussy celebrity.
The Arizona senator’s campaign has gone after Obama hard for his selection of Biden, underscoring Biden’s own criticism of Obama, and the experience gap they allege Obama was trying to fill by choosing the seasoned chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as his running mate.
The Republican National Committee even posted a “countdown” clock on its Web site ticking off the “time until Biden’s next gaffe.”
The Republican Party claimed Biden’s first gaffe came when he called Obama “Barack America” during their appearance together in Springfield, Ill., Saturday.
But McCain also told CBS News he thinks Biden is a “wise selection” and “very formidable.”
Speculation turned instantly to McCain and whom he would choose as a running mate to counter Biden.
Most experts consider the leading contender to be former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who dropped his presidential bid earlier this year, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
His campaign claims Obama’s selection will having no bearing on its own running-mate decision.
McCain is expected to make the announcement at a rally on Friday, Aug. 29, one day after the Democratic convention ends, potentially minimizing Obama’s post-convention bounce in the polls.
Meanwhile, the Clintons, who are both set to speak at the Denver convention, swiftly issued statements in support of Obama after his running-mate decision was made.
“Senator Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic vice president who will help Senator Obama both win the presidency and govern this great country,” Hillary Clinton said.
Bill Clinton’s office released a statement saying the former president “continues to be committed to doing whatever he can to ensure that Senator Obama is the next president of the United States.”
But with a roll-call vote for Hillary Clinton set for the convention, the spectacle could revive some of the divisiveness that characterized the Democratic primary season.
Biden was not a favorite among Democratic delegates to be Obama’s vice presidential pick.
In a CBS News/New York Times poll from Aug. 18, 28 percent of those surveyed said Clinton would be their top choice.
Biden trailed at 6 percent.
