McCain campaign aims to tarnish Obamamania

Rochester, New Hampshire: After months of frustration about what it sees as fawning media coverage of Barack Obama, John McCain's campaign went on offence on Tuesday with a web video called The media is in LOVE with Barack.

The montage, which features news anchors and correspondents discussing "Obamamania" as Frankie Valli's Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You plays, was sent to supporters to raise campaign donations in a week when McCain has been largely overshadowed by coverage of Obama's overseas trip. Charging the media with "a bizarre fascination with Barack Obama", the e-mail reads: "If it wasn't so serious, it would be funny." Among the clips is MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews reacting to Obama's speeches: "I felt this thrill going up my leg. I don't have that too often." Another clip showed Lee Cowan of NBC News telling the network's anchor, Brian Williams, about the enthusiasm of Obama's crowds: "It's almost hard to remain objective; because it's infectious."

In past campaigns, complaints about media bias have galvanised conservatives, which could help McCain as he tries to solidify the Republican base. Earlier this year, the campaign used a widely criticised story by The New York Times about McCain's ties to a female lobbyist to seek donations. It was the campaign's best online fundraising day to date.

But the sentiments in the fundraising e-mail on Tuesday were also a public expression of months of grumbling by McCain advisers, who sarcastically call Obama "The One".