McCain goes after Obama's Chicago ties

John McCain, on the defensive on the Wall Street crisis, is striking back today with a hard-hitting TV ad seeking to tie Democratic rival Barack Obama to the Chicago Democratic machine and its reputation for corrupt politics.

"Barack Obama, born of the corrupt Chicago political machine," the announcer says.

Obama is shown saying, "In terms of my toughness, look first of all, I come from Chicago."

Then the ad shows the silhouettes of what it tries to portray as a rogue's gallery of key supporters.

"His economic adviser, William Daley, lobbyist, mayor's brother," the announcer says. "His money man, Tony Rezko, client, patron, convicted felon. His 'political godfather' Emil Jones, under ethical cloud. His governor, Rod Blagojevich, a legacy of federal and state investigations.

"With friends like that, Obama is not ready to lead," the announcer concludes.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton responded, “It's no coincidence that on the very day newspapers reported that John McCain's campaign manager was paid $2 million to lobby against tighter regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the McCain campaign would launch this false, gratuitous attack. Barack Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate as an independent Democrat. He took on the Chicago Democratic organization in a primary to win a seat in the US Senate. And in both Illinois and Washington, he has challenged the Old Guard for landmark ethics reforms.”