Dueling Fear Ads

Hillary Clinton’s campaign released a new campaign ad in Texas [h/t TPM] designed, I assume, to contrast her leadership qualities with those of (I assume) Senator Obama (or perhaps McCain). From
ABC news:

Closing in on the March 4 contests, Sen. Hillary Clinton debuts a campaign ad today with ominous undertones.

"It’s 3:00am and your children are asleep," the voice over says. "There’s a phone in the White House, and it’s ringing. Something is happening in the world. Your vote will decide who answers that call."

"Whether someone knows the world’s leaders, knows the military, someone tested and ready to lead. It’s 3am and your children are safe and asleep. Who do you want answering the phone?"

The tone of the ad — which echoes the infamous Daisy Ad from the 1964 Johnson-Goldwater presidential race and the red phone ad former Vice President Walter Mondale ran against Gary Hart in their ‘84 race for the Democratic nomination — indicates that the Clinton campaign is pulling out the all the stops leading into the Ohio and Texas primaries.

Within hours after Clinton’s campaign released its "3:00 a.m. phone call" ad, Barack Obama’s campaign released a statement (h/t Greg Sargent at TPM), the money quote from which was:

"This is about what you say when you answer that phone. What judgment you show…She, John McCain and George Bush gave the wrong answer."

. . . and then within a few more hours, Obama released the following counter ad:

And the winner is . . .?

I’ve been dreading what is likely to come from the Republican smear machine. But now I’m starting to look forward to this campaign.

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3. Chellie Pingree: Lobbyists Will Spread “Fear and Confusion” During August Break
4. This is Not the Climate Bill You Need to Fear
5. WaPo Op-Ed: Death Panel Fear Mongers are Misunderstood, Prescient Sages