osg1 2008035 MCCAIN

[The Osgood file.  #1:  LENDINGTREE.COM --- OSGOOD INTRO.  Charlie opens, reads the Lending Tree billboard and tosses to you --- all of that runs 17 seconds.  After you set up the topic, you toss back to Charlie for the spot.]

Thanks Charlie.  Sometimes, it's very hard to figure out what's real and what's not.  Senators Obama and Clinton have nothing but the highest respect for each other when they debate, but you just know their campaign teams are about to start the carpet bombing.   While John McCain, who was carpet bombed eight years ago by George Bush now loves the man--

TAPE:

For a moment there I thought they were ready to become domestic partners.

Back in a moment but once again here's Charlie.

(SPOT)

Eight years ago the Bush campaign stood by as mysterious rumors spread that John McCain didn't have the character to be president.  Now apparently, any character flaws utterly vanished:

TAPE: to this moment

The cynics will tell you that the reason John McCain rushed to the White House to get the President's endorsement was to get it out of the way early.  And hope that nine months would be ample time for the voters to forget.

But that's not what McCain said yesterday:

TAPE:  heavy schedule."

Only if the President were to find himself suddenly busy, would that change.

Democrats, of course, are busy right now editing the video of the Bush-McCain commitment ceremony, and scouring the soundtrack of the Godfather for appropriate music.

I can almost hear it now...

TAPE:... dangerous world

And Republicans like Senagte leader Mitch McConnell will be ready to argue that in times like these, a tough guy is exactly what you want.

TAPE

Which would be?

TAPE

I believe I've heard something about that.  tof