Thursday's ad war revolved around energy, as MoveOn.org announced a 30-second television ad labeling John McCain's energy plan a "gimmick."

McCain has been traveling the country touting his energy plan, which includes lifting the ban on offshore drilling. The ad by MoveOn, which backs Democrat Barack Obama but has no direct connection to the campaign, has a father telling his son how McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, seemed like a principled man.

But the offshore drilling idea, the father said is "not a solution, Mr. McCain. That's a gimmick. We expected better."

Republicans quickly fought back.

GOP spokesman Alex Conant noted that Wednesday, Obama told a Missouri audience that “There are things that you can do individually though to save energy; making sure your tires are properly inflated, simple thing, but we could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling, if everybody was just inflating their tires and getting regular tune-ups. You could actually save just as much.”

Thursday, Conant said, "a day after Barack Obama told voters to inflate their tires and reject domestic exploration, his special-interest friends are echoing his anti-drilling message on TV. Attacking John McCain’s solutions to America’s energy crisis and offering nothing but tire-maintenance advice will not reduce prices at the pump."

To see the MoveOn.org ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O5fFcM59eY

Barack Obama has a slight lead in Ohio and Florida, while he's well ahead of John McCain in Pennsylvania, a new Quinnipiac poll of swing states released Thursday found.

"Florida and Ohio are too close to call," the polling firm said.

Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is up 46-44 in Florida, down slightly from his lead last month. In Ohio, Obaham is also up 46-44, also down.

And in Pennsylvania, Obama leads 49-42, down from his 12 percentage point advantage over McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, in the last poll.

The three states are crucial to both candidates' chances. No president since 1960 has won without taking two of the three states.

To read the poll results: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x2882.xml?ReleaseID=1196

This only took a few hours: Barack Obama's campaign Wednesday night lashed back at Republican rival John McCain with a new 30-second television ad blasting McCain_titled "Low Road."

It opens with a series of what an Obama press release called "fact checks" of "McCain’s recent litany of false charges." Then "outside observers," which are various media organizations, label various McCain claims untrue and taking "the low road." The ad then goes on a road of its own, asserting McCain is pursuing the "same old politics, same failed policies."

The ad comes hours after McCain's latest commercial missile. "Celeb" rips Obama as a female announcer says, softly, "He's the biggest celebrity in the world," as pictures of tabloid faves Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are shown.

"But is he ready to lead?" the ad asks. "With gas prices soaring, Obama says no to offshore drilling. And says he'll raise taxes on electricity. Higher taxes, more foreign oil, that's the real Obama."

See the Obama ad

Republicans are trying to parody Barack Obama's appearance last week in Berlin with a minute-long web video featuring actor-singer David Hasselhoff, a scene from "Titanic" and some comments from random folks.

Obama addressed an estimated 200,000 people in Berlin. In the video, At one point, Obama appears to be declaring himself "King of the World," just as Leonardo DiCaprio did in "Titanic." And the image of Hasselhoff, who is popular in Germany, appears.

Obama was in Washington Tuesday, meeting with members of Congress and others.

To view the RNC video: YouTube RNC

John McCain feels left out.

He used his Saturday radio address to explain how "With all the breathless coverage from abroad, and with Senator Obama now addressing his speeches to 'the people of the world,' I'm starting to feel a little left out. Maybe you are too."

McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, kept up that sardonic tone throughout the address, charging that Obama, who is wrapping up a tour of the Middle East and Europe, has taken "multiple positions on the surge in Iraq."

Obama has explained his views on the war are dictated by events.

But to McCain, Obama "can't quite bring himself to admit his own failure in judgment. Instead, he commits the even greater error of insisting that even in hindsight, he would still oppose the surge. Even in retrospect, he would choose the path of retreat and failure for America over the path of success and victory. That's not exactly my idea of the judgment we seek in a commander-in-chief."

He also criticizes Obama for advocating increasing U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan--a measure criticized by some peace groups but lauded by other Obama backers.

McCain sided with the critics. "We're left to wonder how he can deny that the surge in Iraq has succeeded, while at the same time announcing that a surge is just what we need in Afghanistan. I'll leave all these questions for my opponent and his team of 300 foreign policy advisors to work out for themselves. With luck, they'll get their story straight by the time the Obama campaign returns to North America."

McCain spent his week conducting town hall meetings and giving speeches in swing states, stressing his energy program. He got cheers in some spots for championing offshore oil drilling, which Obama opposes.

In the radio address, McCain described his energy program at length, criticiaing the Democratic-controlled Congress for not tackling the problems. "Nochallenge to our economy and security is more urgent," the senator said, and he pledged as that president, "We're going to get it done."

To hear the McCain radio address: http://www.johnmccain.com/downloads/weeklyaddress_072608.mp3