Obama compared to Hilton, Spears

A Republican Party advert has compared Democrat US presidential hopeful Barack Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

Republican candidate John McCain's latest promotional campaign argues that Obama is "the biggest celebrity in the world".

A narrator then asks the question: "Is he ready to lead?"

The accompanying video features clips of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton flashed between pictures of Obama.

Republican campaign manager Rick Davis commented: "What we decided to do is find the top three international celebrities in the world, and I would say from our indications, Britney and Paris came in second and third.

"It is not our campaign that is trying to make him into an international celebrity. It's his campaign."

An Obama representative responded: "On a day when major news organisations across the country are taking Senator McCain to task for a steady stream of false, negative attacks, his campaign has launched yet another.

"Or, as some might say, 'Oops! He did it again'."