Obama takes the Ayers charges straight on

Obama's campaign has put out a radio advertisement that takes the Ayers charges straight on. This is the text:

Announcer: John McCain's campaign told the press, "If the election's about the economy, he'll lose." Now, as Americans lose their jobs and savings, McCain's resorting to desperate attacks the press calls, "Smears," and, "False."

Bill Ayers is a professor of education who once served with Obama on a school reform board, a board funded by conservative Republicans tied to McCain. When Ayers committed crimes in the '60s, Obama was eight-years-old. Obama condemned those despicable acts. Ayers has had no role in Obama's campaign and will have no role in his administration.

Obama says this campaign should be about how to fix our economy, help small businesses and home owners on Main Street, and crack down on Wall Street abuses. And John McCain? With no plan to fix our economy, smears are all he has left.

Barack Obama: I'm Barack Obama, candidate for president, and I approve this message.

Announcer: Paid for by Obama for America.