Tone Deaf? First Read thinks McCain's negative ad blitz during Olympics might backfire.

[jefferson_dem]

*** Tone deaf? By the way, like good NBC-Universal employees, we spent much of the weekend watching the Olympics. And during the commercial breaks, we saw plenty of those Obama-is-the-biggest-celebrity-in-world TV ads hitting the presumptive Democratic nominee. But almost every other TV ad we saw -- whether it was from Audi, Coke, or the now foreign-owned Anheuser-Busch -- was positive and upbeat. Just asking: Are McCain’s ads tonally off for the Olympics? They stuck out because they were darker than every other ad. The good news: The ads stuck out. The bad news: The ads stuck out. It's a gamble. The message will get across, as all messages from constant negative TV ads do. But will McCain's own favorable ratings pay a price as well?

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/11/1259107.aspx

[NJmaverick]

1. It depends how the MSM spins it

If they do the right thing and call McSlime and his double talk express out for their misdeeds it will back fire. If nothing is said or they support him, it might work. Beyond that I think Obama needs to sharpen the contrast between him and the merchant of mud.

[yodermon]

17. although, how many Olympic watchers out there simply Don't Watch TV news?

I'm curious what the *direct* impact of these ads will be on the average viewer.

[Renew Deal]

2. I mentioned this last weekend.

McCain's ads are out of place with the theme of the games. I think people might object to the overtly negative nature of the ads, especially in contrast to tue upbeat Obama ads.

[blondeatlast]

5. Enough so that even a casual watcher like me had to go "huh?"

I mean, I knew, thanks to DU, that they were coming but had no idea they'd stand out so much.

Happy people, shining cars, all spiffiness and joy and wonderfulness--then McCrepit comes in the room and the air is sucked away and the lights go out.

The contrast is startling, to say the least.

[DainBramaged]

3. The results of a McSenile ad

[C_U_L8R]

4. McCain's ads are very effective

at positioning McCain as the crotchety old candidate who has nothing good to say

[Diamonique]

6. His whole campaign is out of touch.

The Olympics is an uplifting event. Nobody wants to see those negative ads during this time.

Last night McCain's ad ran immediately after our 4-man swim team won the gold. Talk about a downer!

[Occam Bandage]

7. I thought the same thing. You're happy about the Olympics, there are upbeat ads,

and then McCain shows up and puts a pall over the proceedings for a while.

[kristyt]

8. It's More Confused Messaging...what is it Celebrity? Taxes? Job Loss?

Their campaign must not like the direction their numbers went after the week from hell (aka brit/paris/moses week) and now are trying to mix the two.

They're normal attack ads with nothing to them, traditional GOP fearmongering for indys.

Obama could use his own "gamble ad" which counter punches. Questioning why anyone would trust another Republican on claims about Taxes and Jobs....the real gamble, another four years of GOP policy.

[kristyt]

9. And I Still Don't Get the Celebrity Attack Anyway

I like that Obama has responded to make McCain look dishonest and petty.

[Arugula Latte]

10. Sinister Voice: "Can we really elect someone who is ... POPULAR?"

"John McCain will never be popular. Americans can count on that."

[rinsd]

11. Its a BS ad full of Orwellian newspeak.

Energy Independence = Leasing Natural Resources to Multi-National Corporations that are currently exporting record levels of domestic oil.

[TheDonkey]

12. They may upset our sense of chivalry or decency but these smears will work

people respond to negative ads.

[musicblind]

13. Even my mom who is supporting McCain noticed this

I do NOT think this is going to help him actually. I think each time those ads are played it hurts his numbers just a little bit more.

We shall see.

[Sulawesi]

14. I also think the ads give generally positive images of Obama...

smiling, handsome, popular, in front of adoring crowds.

[Bucky]

15. But McCain's "celebrity" ads are the official smear campaign of the 2008 Summer Games!

[CakeGrrl]

16. If he keeps pushing the Obama-celebrity meme

he'll come off as jealous, resentful and maybe obsessive - not that that wasn't obvious to a lot of people from the go.