Local Hits

Sen. McCain’s volley of negative ads has some Democrats worried that Obama is about to be swift-boated. The Obama camp has certainly responded with ads of its own, but the general impression remains that the Obama ads are mostly positive. Perhaps, there is a method to the Obama madness. By running positive ads nationally, Obama can maintain his image as a politician that is above politics as usual and allow the national media to craft a narrative that supports and feeds this impression.

In the meantime, Obama hits McCain hard on the campaign trail, where his attacks will most likely get coverage in the local media. It’s a strategy that worked for Obama in the primaries. Supplementing the verbal attacks on the campaign trail is a recently emerging pattern of localized media attacks on McCain. Obama’s ad in Nevada hits McCain on the Yucca Mountain issue. His radio ad in Ohio goes after McCain’s DHL connection and his latest ad in Wisconsin attacks McCain’s opposition to “buy American” rules.

In the general election where a handful of swing states will determine the outcome of the race, this localized strategy may just prove to be the most effective one.

* Harley-Davidson is based in Wisconsin but also has plants in York, PA and Kansas City, MO. McCain happens to have a campaign stop scheduled in York, PA.