Contact: Press Office, 703-650-5550; www.JohnMcCain.com

ARLINGTON, Va., August 22 /Standard Newswire/ -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released its latest television ad, entitled "Housing Problem." The ad highlights how Tony Rezko -- one of Barack Obama's "biggest fundraisers" and a convicted felon -- helped Barack Obama purchase his million-dollar mansion. The ad will air in key states.

VIEW THE AD HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjC2AlWy6CI

Script For "Housing Problem" (TV :30)

ANNCR: Barack Obama knows a lot about housing problems.

One of his "biggest fundraisers" helped him buy his million-dollar mansion.

Purchasing part of the property he couldn't afford.

From Obama, Rezko got "political favors" including "14 million from taxpayers."

Now, he's a convicted felon, facing jail.

That's a housing problem.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

AD FACTS: Script For "Housing Problem" (TV :30)

ANNCR: Barack Obama knows a lot about housing problems. One of his "biggest fundraisers" helped him buy his million-dollar mansion.

· Convicted Felon Tony Rezko Was "One Of The Biggest Fundraisers" For Obama. "'This was discussed a lot. They wanted to have a good showing,' said a source familiar with the fund-raiser [Rezko held for Obama], speaking on condition of anonymity. 'Tony was one of the biggest fund-raisers.'" (Chris Fusco and Tim Novak, "Rezko Cash Triple What Obama Says," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/18/07)

· On June 15, 2005, Obama And Rita Rezko, Tony Rezko's Wife, Completed Purchases Of Adjoining Properties In Chicago; Obama Purchased His Current Home And Rezko Purchased The Adjoining Lot. "The home and lot sales closed on June 15, 2005. A land trust controlled by the Obamas bought the house for $1.65 million, and the Obamas secured a $1.32 million mortgage from Northern Trust to complete that purchase. That same day, Rezko's wife, Rita Rezko, bought the side lot for $625,000. A $37,000- a-year Cook County employee, she secured a $500,000 mortgage from Mutual Bank of Harvey." (David Jackson, "Obama: I Trusted Rezko: Senator Says Friend Raised More Money Than Previously Known," Chicago Tribune, 3/15/08)

· Seven Months Later In January 2006 Obama Purchased Part Of The Rezko Property From Rita Rezko For $104,500. "Seven months later [January 2006], wanting a bigger yard for his $1.65 million house, Obama bought a slice of the Rezko property for $104,500." (Peter Slevin, "Obama Says He Regrets Land Deal With Fundraiser," The Washington Post, 12/17/06)

· Jay Stewart, Chicago Better Government Association: "What looks bad about the transaction is the fact that the transaction occurred at all. Tony Rezko was headed for trouble. He was clearly in the crosshairs of the federal government." (NBC's "Nightly News," 1/29/08)

· Cindy Canary, Of The Illinois Campaign For Political Reform, Questioned "What Was [Obama] Thinking" For Being Slow To Walk Away From Rezko Despite Clear Warning Signs To Stay Away From Him. Cindy Canary (Illinois Campaign for Political Reform): "So what we're left with is a question of, you know, really, what was he thinking? And the warning signs to stay away were very clear." CBS' Dean Reynolds: "And Obama didn't heed them?" Canary: "Senator Obama was very slow to walk away from Tony Rezko." (CBS's "Evening News," 2/28/08)

ANNCR: Purchasing part of the property he couldn't afford.

· The Seller Of Obama's Home "Wanted To Sell Both Properties At The Same Time." "On the same day Obama closed on his house, Rezko's wife bought the adjacent empty lot, meeting the condition of the seller who wanted to sell both properties at the same time." (Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, "The Rezko Connection," ABC News' "The Blotter" Blog, abcnews.go.com, 1/10/08)

· But Obama Could Not Afford To Purchase The Parcel Of Land Rezko's Wife Purchased. "The parcel included an adjacent lot which Obama told the Chicago Tribune he could not afford because 'it was already a stretch to buy the house.'" (Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz, "The Rezko Connection," ABC News' "The Blotter" Blog, abcnews.go.com, 1/10/08)

ANNCR: From Obama, Rezko got "political favors" including "14 million from taxpayers."

· Chicago Sun-Times: "Barack Obama Wrote Letters To City And State Officials Supporting His Political Patron Tony Rezko's Successful Bid To Get More Than $14 Million From Taxpayers To Build Apartments For Senior Citizens." "As a state senator, Barack Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko's successful bid to get more than $14 million from taxpayers to build apartments for senior citizens. The deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and his partner, Allison S. Davis, Obama's former boss, according to records from the project, which was four blocks outside Obama's state Senate district. The deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and his partner, Allison S. Davis, Obama's former boss, according to records from the project, which was four blocks outside Obama's state Senate district." (Tim Novak, "Not A Favor? As A State Senator, He Wen t To Bat For Now-Indicted Developer's Deal," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)

· Obama Letters "Show The Democratic Presidential Did A Political Favor For Rezko." "Obama's letters, written nearly nine years ago, for the first time show the Democratic presidential hopeful did a political favor for Rezko -- a longtime friend, campaign fund-raiser and client of the law firm where Obama worked -- who was indicted last fall on federal charges that accuse him of demanding kickbacks from companies seeking state business under Gov. Blagojevich." (Tim Novak, "Not A Favor? As A State Senator, He Went To Bat For Now-Indicted Developer's Deal," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)

· Obama Letters Showing Political Favors "Contradict" Obama's Statement That "I've Never Done Any Favors For Him." "The letters appear to contradict a statement last December from Obama, who told the Chicago Tribune that, in all the years he's known Rezko, 'I've never done any favors for him.'" (Tim Novak, "Not A Favor? As A State Senator, He Went To Bat For Now-Indicted Developer's Deal," Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07)

ANNCR: Now, he's a convicted felon, facing jail. That's a housing problem. JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

· Tony Rezko Was Convicted Of Wire And Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, And Aiding And Abetting Bribery. "A federal jury today convicted developer Antoin 'Tony' Rezko of corruption charges for trading on his clout as a top adviser and fundraiser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Rezko's guilty verdict on 16 of 24 corruption counts could have broad repercussions for Blagojevich, who made Rezko a central player in his kitchen cabinet. It could also prove a political liability for U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, who once counted Rezko as a friend and fundraiser, as the likely Democratic presidential nominee heads into the general election campaign against Republican John McCain. ... The jury convicted Rezko of wire and mail fraud, money laundering and aiding and abetting bribery. He was acquitted of attempted extortion." (Bob Secter and Jeff Coen, "Rezko Convicted Of Corruption," Chicago Tribune, 6/4/08)