Ad War Update

Naturally, the Romney campaign is in hysterics. Ed Morrissey sees the ad as some sort of diversion:

What does that say about the Obama campaign’s efforts to scare voters over Mitt Romney’s supposed inability to kill Osama bin Laden? A lot more than they’d like, especially since Osama bin Laden is already dead. This campaign effort at its core uses an argument that’s already moot. The Obama campaign wants to scare voters, rather than make them think, and it’s not just on Osama bin Laden but also with their “war on women” rhetoric, Seamus the dog, Romney’s wealth, and so on. They want to talk about nearly everything except the economy and jobs, and even if they have to become a caricature of what they publicly decried in 2008, they’ll do it.

Michael Falcone compares the spot to Hillary's "get out of the kitchen" ad from 2008. Jamelle Bouie isn't convinced:

As Benjy Sarlin jokingly noted on Twitter, “there’s a subtle difference between fearmongering Bin Laden as a scary ghost, and you know, pointing out ya killed him.” There’s nothing illegitimate about campaigning on foreign policy successes, especially when it’s something as significant as the death of Osama bin Laden. And in a campaign where the Republican nominee accuses Obama of “apologizing for America”—I can see why the campaign would want to highlight the extent to which Obama has had an aggressive foreign policy presence, disagre or otherwise.

Chait adds:

In 2004, Democrats were furious that Bush used the 9/11 attacks as a political asset. Now, Republicans are indignant that Obama is running on having killed Osama bin Laden. (Of course, the difference is that 9/11 was at best something Bush had no responsibility for and at worst a colossal blunder, while killing bin Laden is an actual accomplishment.)

Previous Ad War Updates: Apr 26, Apr 25, Apr 24, Apr 23, Apr 18, Apr 17, Apr 16, Apr 13, Apr 11, Apr 10, Apr 9, Apr 5, Apr 4, Apr 3, Apr 2, Mar 30, Mar 27, Mar 26, Mar 23, Mar 22, Mar 21, Mar 20, Mar 19, Mar 16, Mar 15, Mar 14, Mar 13, Mar 12, Mar 9, Mar 8, Mar 7, Mar 6, Mar 5, Mar 2, Mar 1, Feb 29, Feb 28, Feb 27, Feb 23, Feb 22, Feb 21, Feb 17, Feb 16, Feb 15, Feb 14, Feb 13, Feb 9, Feb 8, Feb 7, Feb 6, Feb 3, Feb 2, Feb 1, Jan 30, Jan 29, Jan 27, Jan 26, Jan 25, Jan 24, Jan 22, Jan 20, Jan 19, Jan 18, Jan 17, Jan 16 and Jan 12.