Seems the experts are confused as to what McCain is doing.
In a celebrity-driven culture that has left little space for John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate has decided to go tabloid.
By featuring Paris Hilton and Britney Spears in an attack ad against Barack Obama, the senator from Arizona has risked charges of silliness to draw attention to his frequently overshadowed campaign.... analysts questioned what message McCain was sending by interspersing footage of his Democratic opponent before a huge crowd in Berlin with that of two socialites famous for their irresponsible antics.
"I don't get it," said Ken Goldstein, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. "Is it valid to go after Barack Obama on inexperience, being a bit glib, perhaps even a bit arrogant for doing the European tour? Absolutely. But you just sound dopey when you put Paris Hilton in an ad."
Shanto Iyengar, a professor of political science and communications at Stanford University, said McCain needs "to come up with a more affirmative narrative for his candidacy -- Why is he running? What does he stand for? -- before going after Barack Obama." But he added: "McCain has lost the free media contest over the past couple of weeks; he's desperate to make the news....
Even some McCain allies have winced at the Paris/Britney spot. Republican strategist Dan Schnur, a former McCain adviser, said that "most voters won't see the parallels between a presidential candidate and two party girls. So a legitimate point about inexperience gets lost in the appearance of name-calling."
