"Debra"
New John McCain ad features a former Hillary Clinton delegate -- Debra Bartoshevich -- who says in the 30-second spot she's backing the GOP nom in the general. Cllinton, Bartoshevich says, had the "experience and judgment to be president." She doesn't mention Barack Obama in the ad but notes that she'll support a Republican for the first time. "I respect his maverick and independent streak, and now he's the one with the experience and judgment," she says of McCain.
This marks the second McCain ad in as many days pushing conflict between former Clinton backers and Obama camp. Will Clinton have to reject this spot more forcefully than she did the ad debuted yesterday by McCain's team?
The McCain camp is saying only that the latest ad, as yesterday's, will run in "key states."
The Wisconsin Democratic Party voted last month to strip Bartoshevich, who promised to back McCain during her party convention, of her voting rights.
Script For "Debra" (TV :30)
DEBRA BARTOSHEVICH: I'm a proud Hillary Clinton Democrat.
She had the experience and judgment to be President.
Now, in a first for me, I'm supporting a Republican, John McCain.
I respect his maverick and independent streak, and now he's the one with the experience and judgment.
A lot of Democrats will vote McCain. It's okay, really!
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.
Thank you for connecting the fact that she was the same person who wanted to vote for McCain in the first place.
This woman is certainly NOT representative of a trend.
This ad will backfire.
She won't get the Lincoln bedroom, probably the Warren G. Harding suite.
The Real Issue is that this lady is disgruntled and that's what disgruntled people do. The truth is: 95% of the time, Senator McCain voted with the Bush Administration policies that have failed this country. That's the issue.