ANN ALTHOUSE, last seen defending Barack Obama from charges of socialism, now defends McCain’s new ad on Obama, Ayers, and Dohrn against charges of racism. “Why is it racial to stir up doubt about whether Obama is a mainstream Democrat? Most of the argument seems to be that because he is black, any doubts about him have a synergistic effect with any racism that happens to be out there.”

Here’s the ad. What do you think?

Steve Sturm, meanwhile, thinks the McCain campaign is wasting its time.