Obama Informercial? Hire Lawyers Instead

Talk about money to burn: Tonight the Barack Obama campaign presents a half-hour "infomercial" on three television networks — 30 minutes more than many Americans might want in a single sitting about the person increasingly likely to be our next president.

Both Obama and Republican candidate John McCain have run some effective half-minute commercials, McCain's appearing with less frequency as his fund-raising appeal is fading and his public-financed budget of $84 million is a trifle alongside the Democratic champion's $150 million during September alone.

So after three ho-hum debates and countless "town hall" events by both parties' presidential and vice-presidential candidates in battleground states, Obama is spending scads of money selling — or over-selling — himself?

His fans will love it. The show is certain to help validate all the phone-banking and door-to-dooring so many people have done on the Illinois senator's behalf. But barring something spectacular — the candidate canning 10 three-pointers in a row? Reciting the Bill of Rights backwards? A two-minute sprint from the Capitol to the White House? — how many undecided voters will keep their remotes tuned to Obama and make their decision by station-break time?

To be sure, John F. Kennedy did lengthy commercials. But so did Ross Perot. Somehow, we can't help thinking there are better things Obama could do with his money — besides massive advertising.

Lawyering up, for example. If recent presidential elections are any indication, the next few days will be full of dirty tricks:

Spurious challenges to voters in the poor parts of major cities, where the masses are pinning their hopes on the man from the south side of Chicago

Attempts at intimidating folks by telling 'em sheriffs, bill-collectors, la migra and others lie in wait at the polls, ready to pounce on 'em for daring to exercise their rights.

Fraudulent procedures aimed at spoiling ballots — or miscounting them.

Both camps, by now, must have armies of poll-watchers organized against mischief by the opposition. But ever since the Bush campaign sent a flying squad of suits into Florida to render that state's already-faulty 2000 election system totally chaotic, Democrats have been on notice: Fight lawyers with lawyers.

Some might show up out of dedication to party principles; others might heed the advice so often issued smilingly by the late legendary law prof Walter Henry Edward Jaeger of Georgetown: Get the fee first.

Voter-registration fraud, real and imagined, could prompt people to toss monkey wrenches into the works. Cool legal minds, not hotheads from the vested interests, might be badly needed in many parts of the country to sort out valid claims from the merely vehement ones.

That, to my mind, is where Obama could better invest the embarrassment of riches that have come his way.