Barack Obama responds with his own McCain 'celebrity' ad

Well, this year, the epithet of choice is "celebrity."

Democrat Barack Obama is on vacation this week, but his campaign released its latest advertisement, accusing Republican rival John McCain of being a "celebrity" in Washington political circles. The McCain campaign fired the first salvo in the celebrity game when it compared Obama to Paris Hilton, who's more famous for being notorious than for any real accomplishment.

"For decades, he's been Washington's biggest celebrity," the announcer says of McCain in the Obama ad, titled "Embrace." It then shows the introduction of the Arizona Republican during an appearance on "Saturday Night Live."

Beneath the symbols are the serious themes the campaigns have been trying to develop for months. The McCain campaign has stressed that Obama, though famous, is too inexperienced to lead the United States and has hammered that image home in speeches by the candidate, his surrogates and the campaign advertising campaign.

The Obama campaign has retaliated by portraying McCain, who has insisted that he's still a political maverick, as running for the Bush administration's third term.

The latest advertisement by the Obama campaign shows footage of McCain hugging President Bush.

"As Washington embraced him, John McCain hugged right back," the announcer says, showing footage of McCain with lobbyists, aides and Bush.

"The lobbyists -- running his low-road campaign. The money -- billions in tax breaks for oil and drug companies, but almost nothing for families like yours. Lurching to the right, then the left, the old Washington dance, whatever it takes. John McCain. A Washington celebrity playing the same old Washington games."

McCain was in Erie, Pa., today, visiting a General Electric Transportation Systems plant, which is known for its production of locomotives.

McCain was accompanied by former Gov. Tom Ridge, considered a possible vice presidential choice. He was also accompanied by GE chairman and Chief Executive Jeff Immelt and Lorenzo Simonelli, president and chief executive of GE Transportation, according to pool reports.

McCain moved through the plant, viewing a number of brightly painted locomotives and greeting workers. "Good to see you all," and "You're doing great work," he said.

One worker wore a stars-and-stripes bandanna and a T-shirt with McCain's picture. He received a hug.

michael.muskal@latimes.com

Times staff writer Seema Mehta contributed to this report from the McCain campaign in Pennsylvania.