There's a pesky little issue that is standing in the way of John McCain's portrayal of himself as the carer in chief and Barack Obama as the aloof elitist: John McCain and campaign manager Rick Davis helped the pending consolidation of DHL's air operations under UPS, which, if it goes through, would likely lead to at least 8,000 job losses in...wait for it...Ohio.

The Obama campaign is hitting hard on this having released a radio ad that doesn't mince words:

"But there's something John McCain's not telling you: It was McCain who used his influence in the Senate to help foreign-owned DHL buy a U.S. company and gain control over the jobs that are now on the chopping block in Ohio," the announcer says.

"And that's not all: McCain's campaign manager was the top lobbyist for the DHL deal...helped push it through. His firm was paid $185,000 to lobby McCain and other Senators."

You can listen to the ad HERE.

Cearly Team Obama thinks they're onto something. David Plouffe on a conference call seemed downright giddy. From HuffPo:

Barack Obama's presidential campaign claimed that the general election had reached a critical turning point this past week after it was revealed that John McCain and his campaign manager had helped facilitate a merger that could result in the loss of thousands of jobs in Ohio.

On a conference call with reporters, Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe said news of McCain and Rick Davis' involvement in the DHL deal was "the most important development of the entire campaign this week" and would convince voters in the critical swing state that the Arizona Republican was far from his maverick image.

"He was there a month ago in this community and was asked a question about this DHL issue and did not say one word about his role in this or the role of his campaign manager. That is the furthest thing from straight talk that we can imagine," said Plouffe. "John McCain can become an emblem for people about what is wrong with Washington. He released an ad this week about how Washington is broken and how he will strive to fix it. He didn't mention that he has been enmeshed in a broken Washington culture for 26 years or that his campaign is run by the most powerful, now former lobbyist in Washington."

McCain must think Obama's onto something too, as his campaign felt the need to have a conference call of their own in response to the ad. As Erik Kleefeld notes, their attack on Obama this time is ridiculously strained.

On a conference call just now with reporters, held in response to an Obama radio ad in Ohio tying McCain and Rick Davis to local job losses, an area resident who supports McCain lambasted Obama for running the ad.

"Shame, shame on Barack Obama for making us and putting us in this sort of position to look like the sad little Wilmington people," said Mary Houghtaling, a local McCain supporter. Houghtaling later added, "He should be helping us, not harming us. He makes us look foolish, it's not right."

Okaaaay.

More evidence you know the McCain camp is worried: yesterday McCain called on the Justice Department to investigate the planned merger. Funny thing, McCain is doing this more than a week after Barack Obama called on the Bush administration to initiate an investigation.