Dems (Finally) Hit McCain’s $500 Shoes

Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY), the aggressive leader of Senate Democrats’ reelection strategy, just rolled out a new, personal attack on Sen. John McCain, painting his colleague as a wealthy, out-of-touch elitist.  Presenting his own rebuttal to recent attacks on Sen. Barack Obama, Schumer told Politico:

What do you mean he’s not one of us? It’s John McCain who wears $500 shoes, has six houses and comes from one of the richest families in his state. It’s Barack Obama who climbed up the hard way, and that’s why he wants middle-class tax cuts and better schools for our kids.

Schumer, who spoke while promoting his book "Positively American," is hitting two priorities for Obama surrogates. First, unlike the anonymous gang of Democratic consultants that toss around blind quotes second-guessing Obama, Schumer is using his platform to make his own case for Obama over McCain.  And avoiding the political tick of saying what others should say, he is executing his strategy by going on offense.

Second, Schumer is drawing the link between McCain’s regressive economic policies — no stimulus and a more pro-millionaire tax plan than President George W. Bush — and his tremendous personal wealth.  He’s pushing reporters and voters to consider how McCain’s massive fortune and lavish lifestyle have further removed him from the realities facing regular Americans.