Obama Flips 'Elitist' Tag Onto McCain

John McCain's inability to recall how many homes he owns could throw a wrench in his attempt to paint Obama as an elitist, the Washington Post reports. The furious back and forth between camps—the Obama team pounced and mocked, while McCain's charged hypocrisy and pulled out the Rezko card—ratcheted up the recent nasty tone and demonstrated how important the "regular guy" image is to both candidates.

The GOP strategy of late, an apparently successful one, has been to paint Obama as a celebrity elite out of touch with everyday people. But the house flap gave Obama an opening to turn the tables by going after McCain's wealth. The GOP response: “Does a guy who just got back from vacation on a private beach and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want” to talk houses? If Rezko remains an issue, look for the Democrats to dredge up McCain's ties to the long-ago Keating S&L scandal.
(More John McCain stories.)