Sometimes political campaigns use third-party endorsements in advertising to impress voters with their reach.  I don’t know that I’ve ever seen an election where a presidential candidate got an inadvertent endorsement from the opposing running mate, but then again, Joe Biden has never made it onto a national ticket until 2008 — and we’re beginning to understand why.  Team McCain uses Biden’s “endorsement” in their latest ad:

ANNCR: Listen to Joe Biden. Talking about what electing Barack Obama will mean.

JOE BIDEN: Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama.

The world is looking. We’re going to have an international crisis … to test the mettle of this guy.

I guarantee you it’s gonna happen.

ANNCR: It doesn’t have to happen. Vote McCain.

Ads that use the words of opponents against them always work more effectively, and this could be the Best of Class, perhaps even better than Joe the Plumber. While most Americans reject redistributionism, it has nuances that allow Barack Obama to explain it away in rebuttal. Biden’s statement has no shadings at all. Elect Barack Obama and we’ll face an international crisis right away specifically to test Obama — because he’s untested and inexperienced.

Every voter understands what that means. Who wants unnecessary crisis? As the ad states, they can avoid that by electing John McCain instead. Heck, Biden’s own words makes that plain.

Team McCain says the ad will run in “key states”. It should be seen nationwide, but I’ll settle for eight or nine swing states.