Senator McCain’s presidential campaign yesterday released a withering television ad comparing Senator Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, suggesting the Democratic contender is little more than a vapid but widely recognized press concoction. Mr. Obama’s campaign quickly responded with a commercial of its own, dismissing Mr. McCain’s complaints as “baloney” and “baseless.” Mr. McCain’s ad, titled “Celeb” and set to air in 11 battleground states, intercuts images of Mr. Obama on his trip to Europe last week with video of Ms. Spears and Ms. Hilton — both better known for their childish off-screen antics. “He’s the biggest celebrity in the world, but is he ready to lead?” the voiceover asks, noting the Illinois senator’s opposition to offshore oil drilling and suggesting he would raise taxes if elected. “He doesn’t seem to have anything positive to say about me, does he?” Mr. Obama said. “You need to ask John McCain what he’s for, not just what he’s against.”

McCAIN PLEDGES NOT TO RAISE TAXES

Republican Ronald Reagan raised taxes and survived to serve another presidential term. His successor, George H.W. Bush, raised taxes and did not. Now comes Senator McCain, eager to reassure conservatives he’s no tax raiser, yet also intent on letting voters know he will “do the hard things,” as he often said in the primaries. “I don’t want tax increases. But that doesn’t mean that anything is off the table” when it comes to Social Security, he said over the weekend, an open-to-interpretation remark that drew a prompt challenge from the conservative Club for Growth. “We hope you will clarify where you stand on this important issue and reaffirm your commitment to eschew all tax increases,” the group’s president, Pat Toomey, wrote. Mr. McCain provided his answer in Sparks, Nev., on Tuesday, when a girl asked him whether he would ever raise taxes. “No” was the answer, a paragon of simplicity in contrast to the parsing by aides seeking to explain his earlier remarks. Yesterday, speaking of taxes generally while campaigning in Colorado, Mr. McCain added: “I want to look you in the eye: I will not raise taxes or support a tax increase.”