Tonight was filled with even more Obama moments. Across six television networks -- three broadcast, three cable -- Obama, D-Ill., unveiled a much-anticipated, primetime, 30-minute infomercial, delivering his closing argument as to why he should be elected president.
ABC News' Chief Washington correspondent George Stephanopoulos said the infomercial, which cost more than $3 million, was worth "just about every penny."
"This was a very highly produced, technically incredibly competent half hour of television," Stephanopoulos said, "all designed to get voters comfortable with Barack Obama in the Oval Office."
Obama's Ad: A Presidential Pitch
The ad traveled from scene to scene, weaving several personal stories into a carefully scripted and, at times, presidential-looking pitch. When Obama appeared on camera, he stood in a well-lit faux oval office, looking stern in front of a large wooden desk. An American flag stood just over his right shoulder.
The commercial also highlighted some of the most noteworthy moments of Obama's political career, including a well-received line on education he used in one of his debates.
"Responsibility for our children's success doesn't start in Washington," he said. "It starts in our homes. No education policy can replace a parent who's involved in their child's education from day one, who makes sure their children are in school on time, helps them with their homework and attends those parent-teacher conferences."
"The campaign knows for a fact that when Obama said those lines during the debate, and they had voters hooked up to dial groups, it had the highest response of the entire debate," said Stephanopoulos. "So they repeated it tonight."
This pattern continued throughout the ad. From health care to the war in Iraq, Obama highlighted central issues, using language voters responded to.
"Every idea that Obama talked about is something campaign knows appeals to undecided voters," said Stephanopoulos, "especially the economically distressed ones out there in the country right now."
'Buyer Beware,' Says McCain Campaign
But even before it aired, Obama's advertisement had been widely panned by the Republican ticket. Today, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., criticized the infomercial to reporters calling it a "gauzy, feel-good commercial."
He then added that the commercial was "paid for with broken promises," referring to a pledge Obama made to accept public financing for his campaign.
And tonight, not long after the infomercial aired, McCain-Palin campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds delivered the campaign's official response: "As anyone who has bought anything from an infomercial knows, the sales job is always better than the product. Buyer beware."
"That's an implicit admission that they know the message worked," said Stephanopoulos. "They just hope that the messenger won't be trusted."
Tonight's half-hour ended with a bang: Obama, shown live from Kissimee, Fla., delivered a fiery speech, with a raucous crowed cheering loudly.
"And now, to all of those who've joined us from across this country, I say that, in six days, we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates new jobs and fuels our prosperity, starting with the middle class," he said. "In six days, we can come together as one nation and one people, and once more choose our better history. "
Voters who live on the West Coast will see an even bigger bang: Obama joined on stage with President Bill Clinton -- a symbolic passing of the torch.
Clinton and Obama: 'Cold War to Cool Peace'
For months after Obama secured the nomination, Clinton seemed reluctant to get fully behind Obama's campaign -- reportedly telling friends he resented accusations from the Obama camp that he'd tried to play the "race card" in the primaries. But tonight, all of that will be in the past.
"I think Clinton and Obama are moving from a cold war to a cool peace," said Stephanopolous. "President Clinton is out there campaigning in these final days in several states, not only Florida, but also Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
"Barack Obama has been praising the Clinton record more and more in his speeches, something he hadn't done before. He is also reaching out to Clinton privately more and more. He called him a couple of times during the financial crisis," Stephanopoulos said. "There is still some healing to be done, but the relationship is getting much better."
With all his money and the crowds and Clinton, Obama may feel like he's on a roll. With just six days until the election, today's ABC News tracking poll shows Obama with an eight-point advantage over John McCain. But McCain is still fighting, hoping that the estimated millions who saw tonight's Obama commercial won't be swayed.
Slideshow archive | ABC13 wireless | Help solve crimes
