McCain to Biden: Too early to celebrate

In response to a Joe Biden email telling supporters that the "McCain campaign is on the ropes," the McCain camp responded that it is too early to celebrate.

"Being an underdog is a role that John McCain relishes and with 26 days left I don’t think Joe Biden should pop the champagne just yet," said McCain spokesman Ben Porritt. "We are confident that as people make their decisions they will choose John McCain, a maverick with a real record over Barack Obama —an unknown commodity with radical associations and poor judgment."

Biden email

Biden's email encouraged supporters to donate $5 or more "to show John McCain and Governor Palin that when they attack us with lies and smears, it literally makes our campaign stronger."

If they get $5 every time the McCain camp launches an attack ad, they'll likely set a fund-raising record. It's not going to get any nicer. Forget ponies and gumdrops -- think Damien and Freddie (Krueger - not Mac).

New ad

The McCain response echoes a new ad the campaign launched today -- easily the strongest spot yet pairing Weather Underground founder Bill Ayers with Barack Obama.

The charge is nothing new, surfacing before the general election and most recently with vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin mentioning Ayers at every campaign stop. Palin also discussed the Ayers-Obama relationship last night with FOX News host Greta Van Susteren.

"...This association is pretty significant," Palin said. "And it's kind of telling regarding someone's judgment that they would be working with, associated with, a domestic terrorist, who had, you know, campaigned to bomb the United States Capitol and our Pentagon. And this is an unrepentant domestic terrorist. That's the scary part about it."

Tough competition

Although Palin's stump speech always includes a reference to Ayers, it hasn't gotten a lot of traction. News of the imploding economy has taken center stage for weeks.

The suspense leading up to what's being called "the worst debate ever," was whether McCain would play the Ayers-card on Obama during Tuesday's insomnia-curing showdown.

Start fighting!

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