Article: ELECTION 2008 <> Obama stars in McCain's campaign <> GOP hopeful focuses on foe in effort to dim image

Washington -- There are at least two ways to explain the summer offensive John McCain has launched against Barack Obama, highlighted by last week's "Britney Spears" ad belittling the Illinois Democrat as "the biggest celebrity in the world."

One is that McCain, running in a lousy year for Republicans, needs to make this election about Obama.

The other is that this election already is about Obama -- that whatever McCain says or does, the subject of Obama is going to dominate the coverage and conversation.

"It appears the McCain people are so frustrated with Obama's star appeal, and their sense that he is harder to criticize, (that) they've made the judgment they have to somehow tarnish him, ...

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