‘Can’t send an e-mail’ not exactly an attack ad

If challenging McCain on that regard as him being anything but an exemplar of change is a serious example of a harder-hitting Obama, well, we can just fold up the sidewalks, cancel the debates, declare the election over …

And immediately proceed to the 2009-2012 round of Democratic presidential failure naval-gazing.

Beyond it being weak tea in general, it reflects and exemplifies much of the criticism of Obama the presidential campaigner that’s been coming from left of center and not just the right.

1. Elitist/out of touch with ordinary Americans. You could attack him on plenty of non-change issues which would resonate more than this one.

2. The “cool” Obama. The ad does nothing to change that impression.

This is not so much Gore or Kerry redux as it is Mike Dukakis — Obama as emotionally detached, cerebral wonk.

Update: It’s an especially bad, not just weak, ad, if McCain CAN use a Blackberry.

And, per the link above, even the “can’t use an e-mail” claim appears to be, well, the “L-word” that the Obama staff bandies about McCain-Palin:

Q: Do you use a blackberry or email?

Mr. McCain: No

Mark Salter: He uses a BlackBerry, just ours.

Mr. McCain: I use the Blackberry, but I don’t e-mail, I’ve never felt the particular need to e-mail. I read e-mails all the time, but the communications that I have with my friends and staff are oral and done with my cell phone.

Is it time for an Obama staff shakeup?