Presidential contender John McCain isn’t going to let pithy messages from Paris Hilton keep him from the goal - making competitor Barack Obama seem like the lesser of two choices.

Today, many are busy laughing at Hilton’s recent comeback to John McCain’s political ads, but already the republican has issued a new anti-Obama spot. The new TV spot is in the same vein as the one which came before, wherein McCain likens Obama to celebrities like Hilton and Britney Spears.

This new ad mentions neither Spears nor Hilton by name, but continues to call Barack Obama “the biggest celebrity in the world.” Before we start to talk about the ad itself, let’s take a good, long look at this new catchphrase McCain is trying to coin. At the height of her career, Greta Garbo truly was considered to be the biggest star in all the land - and while I like Barack just fine, he’ll never ever reach Garbo status.

Moreover, Ronald Reagan, who has frequently been trotted out by the republican politicians through the course of the ongoing presidential campaigning, got his start as an actor - not a politician. Furthermore, in a way aren’t all politicians celebrities?

But I digress. The new campaign ad asks this question: “Is the biggest celebrity in the world” - that’s Obama - “ready to help your family?” The ad goes on to indicate that Obama as president would raise taxes and create fewer jobs. McCain, on the other hand, will create new jobs and energy independence.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton responded to the ad, saying “it’s time to retire these old policies and bring new energy to America.”

Hilton’s first response to McCain (you can view it here) outlines a fairly plausible energy policy which marriages the two ideas put forth by McCain and Obama. In response to Hilton, the McCain camp commented, “Paris Hilton might not be as big a celebrity as Barack Obama, but she obviously has a better energy plan.” Zing!

And so, lovers of politics, the attack ads have begun. Stand by for more small explosions all over your television screen.