John McCain emphasized his independent streak and reformer credentials in a new TV commercial Tuesday as he sought to counter Democratic charges that he’s the same as President Bush.
“Washington’s broken. John McCain knows it. We’re worse off than we were four years ago,” says the ad. “He’s the original maverick.”
Although the commercial does not mention Barack Obama, it suggests the first-term Illinois senator is unprepared to be president by saying McCain is the one “ready to lead.”
It also tries to cast McCain, a four-term Arizona senator, as a change agent. It does not mention areas where McCain and Bush agree, such as tax cuts, the Iraq war and free-market economics.
“Being a maverick isn’t practicing the same kind of politics we have seen from Washington for decades,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.
