Kaine: McCain’s Ads Funny, But So Is Wearing a Clown Suit

Virginia Gov Tim Kaine (D) dismissed John McCain’s ads trying to tie Barack Obama to celebrities as “funny” but not overly effective.

“Well, some of the ads that Sen. McCain has been running, I just scratch my head at them,” Kaine said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday. “I mean, they really kind of seem out of touch with what the issues are.”

Kaine, who is being considered as a running mate for Obama, took particular issue with specific comparisons between Obama and other celebrities.

“The whole ad about, you know, the Paris Hilton and the celebrity thing, I mean, it was funny, but wearing a clown suit and juggling would be funny, too, but it doesn’t connect with the concerns Americans have about gas prices, about the war, about the economy,” Kaine said. “So I think on things like that, shoot, I hope the McCain camp does more of those ads, and we’ll just let him do those ads.”

Kaine was responding to suggestions by other Democrats that Obama needs to hit back harder against the McCain attacks.

“Sen. Obama has shown that he’s a very tough campaigner. He doesn’t take a punch. He doesn’t take anything laying down. But he always will spin it back to positives, because he’s got a positive message and a positive record. And what Americans want to hear is about solutions,” Kaine said.