McCain's Attack Strategy Hinges on Obama's Celebrity DES MOINES, IA (kuni) - Recent campaign ads depicting Barack Obama as "the biggest celebrity in the world" are part of the McCain campaign's strategy to create a negative image of Obama, acccording to political commentators Rachel Caufield and Steffen Schmidt, speaking on "Talk@12" on Iowa Public Radio.

"This idea [is] that [Obama is] a celebrity... but what do we really know about him? The McCain campaign is trying to redefine who he is," said Caufield, a political science professor at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

"Beating up on candidates by linking them to Hollywood culture has always been a winning proposition, especially for Republicans," added Schmidt, also a political science professor at Iowa State University.

"I doubt if shaking the boogyman of Paris HIlton is going to really distract all but the most ideaological voters who probably weren't going to support Obama," Schmidt said.

In a recent visit to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Obama criticized the McCain campaign for linking him to Hollywood celebrities.

"Given the magnitude of our challenges when it comes to energy, and healthcare, and jobs, and our foreign policy, you'd think we'd be having a serious debate. But so far, all we've been hearing about is Paris Hilton and Britney Spears," Obama told the crowd.

Negative ad campaigns that raise serious questions about an opponent can be effective, according to Caufield.

As Americans start to pay more attention to the presidential race following summer vacations, the candidates must define themselves on issues, Schmidt said.

"Negative campaigns work, but if the campaigns don't have a lot of substance in their negative attacks, then people will get mad, because they'd like to see a serious discussion," Schmidt said.

"We are living in a watershed time. This is going to be a watershed, critical election," he added. © Copyright 2009, kuni