It's all about the O

As the TV commercial says, "It's all about the O". In their case, they're talking about Overstock.com...but more and more, you could just as well say "It's all about Obama".

Of course you've probably heard about how upset the O's campaign folks have gotten over McCain's recent TV ad drawing attention to the "celebrity" issue...making somewhat of a comparison with O and the like of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, (two other subjects of mindless celebrity worship). And it's a great point for McCain to make. As in, "Hey, why's everyone getting so worked up over this guy? You don't even know what he stands for!".

Well now the McCain camp strikes another blow today with the release of "The One", a video that uses O's own words to paint a semi-devine picture picture of himself...even closing with a clip from the Ten Commandments with the Red Sea parting. ("This guy can do anything!") Check it out.

The point of the ad being a little bit of political jujitsu...to take the other guys strength and momentum and use it against him. As in, make fun of his "divine" image...show people how ridiculous it is. Poke a hole in it and let the air out. Once you've done that, the next step will be to use his record to show people what he really is.

Here's the email that came with the videor:

As the biggest celebrity in the world, Barack Obama began the week with a nine-point lead in the Gallup Tracking poll.

As Barack Obama rallied in front of 200,000 fans in Berlin, John McCain talked about the issues Americans care about on the campaign trail. We made up ground and ended the week even - tied in the Gallup Tracking poll.

While you have undoubtedly seen much on television about the campaign, it has been a great week for John McCain and we hope you had a good one too. In that spirit, we wanted you to see our latest fun video. We hope you enjoy it and have a great weekend. If you like it, please forward the video to your friends and then click here to make a contribution to John McCain.

After months of seeming to be in neutral, these guys are finally getting it together on the messaging. And it looks like it's paying off. Polls out today show things getting tighter in some key states:

A university survey in Florida shows Obama leading 46 percent to 44 percent, compared with 47 percent to 43 percent last month.

A poll in Ohio also gives Obama a 46 percent to 44 percent edge, down from 48 percent to 42 percent last month.

And a survey by the university in Pennsylvania has Obama ahead 49 percent to 42 percent, compared with 52 percent to 40 percent last month.

The pollsters say Obama's overseas trip apparently didn't help because voters are more concerned with energy costs, an issue McCain emphasized while his rival was abroad.

"While Obama was on tour, trying to show voters he could handle world affairs, voters were home trying to fill their gas tanks," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of Quinnipiac's polling institute.

Exactly. And there's a message there for Republicans. Also, in each case, Obama's lead has been cut in the timeframe of the end of, or just after returning from his World Tour. Gallup even has it at 45%-44% today, (essentially a tie).

If this election is indeed going to continue to be "all about the O", then the McCain camp just needs to take what they're dealt and say "fine, let's talk about him"..and proceed to strip the bark off.

***

More: National Journal - Hot Air - Powerline - Stop the ACLU