In other campaign news, Senator Obama has released a new ad slamming John McCain’s ties to Ralph Reed, an associate of convicted Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Sen. Barack Obama: “I’m Barack Obama, and I approved this message.”

Text of Obama ad: “It was one of Washington’s biggest scandals, and the Republican power broker Ralph Reed was in the middle of it, in deep with convicted felon and lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But when the Senate investigated, the senator in charge never even called Reed to testify. That senator? John McCain. And who is now raising money for McCain’s campaign? Ralph Reed. For twenty-six years in Washington, John McCain has played the same old games. We just can’t afford more of the same.”