Opinion: McCain-Clinton in 2008

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Even by the low standards of campaign attack ads, there is something pathetic about the John McCain commercial commiserating with Hillary Clinton for not being tapped by Barack Obama as his running mate.

‘She won millions of votes but isn’t on his ticket,’ a McCain commercial said. ‘Why? For speaking the truth.’

There is poetic justice for Clinton in being drafted by the McCain campaign. Her attacks on Obama in the primary season -- like all such broadsides -- were transparently tactical and insincere. Clinton was no more appalled by Obama’s ties to dodgy businessman Tony Rezko than Rudy Giuliani was by Mitt Romney’s employment of illegal aliens to manicure the lawn of his Massachusetts mansion.

Politicians and journalists know these silly shotgun attacks are meaningless, and become inoperative as soon as the primaries are over and a nominee has been anointed. But a lot of voters aren’t in on the joke, which is why McCain’s crocodile tears for Hillary might actually deter some Democrats from voting for Obama. If not, he could ask her to join him on the Republican ticket.

The photo of John McCain and Hillary Clinton practicing for the inaugural (no, check that, they’re at a 2007 dedication ceremony for a military rehabilitation center in San Antonio) is by Ben Sklar/Getty Images.