Biden: I was against the ad before I was for it!

Joe Biden is never boring...

When interviewed by CBS anchor Katie Couric yesterday, Biden condemned a recent Obama ad that poked fun at John McCain's "inability" to use a computer.

"I thought that was terrible by the way," he said. "If I'd have had anything to do with it, we never would have done it."

Rapid response

The ever-helpful McCain communications team -- rivaled only by the always-helpful Obama communications team -- seized on the remarks, sending out emails making sure the press corps was aware of the Biden-Couric exchange. As a bonus, they included a statement from a McCain spokesman complete with another dig at the New York Times (which appeared to be the talking point of the day).

"While the New York Times and other media outlets were silent in the face of Barack Obama's shameless and dishonorable attack on John McCain, even Obama's own running mate has now condemned the ad as 'terrible,' admitting he never would have approved it," spokesman Brian Rogers said. "Barack Obama has brought the sleazy gutter politics of Chicago to our national stage, exposing his call for a ‘new politics’ as a lie and embarrassing even his own running-mate with the low road campaign he's running."

Sleeping dogs

If the story had ended there, Biden could have appeared above the fray -- someone who is not afraid to criticize his own campaign if necessary. A "I call it like I see it" guy. His statement could have been viewed as refreshing candor in a sea of negativity and spin.

Not so fast

Of course with Joe Biden it's not that easy. He was apparently commenting on a commercial he had never seen. At least that's the spin now.

In a late night email from the Obama camp, a new Biden statement emerged.

"I was asked about an ad I'd never seen, reacting merely to press reports," Biden explained. "Having now reviewed the ad, it is even more clear to me that given the disgraceful tenor of Senator McCain's ads and their persistent falsehoods, his campaign is in no position to criticize..."

Flip flop

The sudden change of heart makes you wonder: If it were up to Biden, would he have reversed his position? Or did the Obama communications team deem it necessary to pull the U-turn?

Disco

The ad in question entitled "Still" brings back the early '80s complete, with disco balls, Rubik’s cubes, turntables, and a freshman congressman named John McCain.

The ad reads: "Things have changed in the last 26 years, but McCain hasn't. He admits he doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an email."

The video clip of the Biden-Couric exchange is below.

Usually, it's one campaign reacting to another campaign's ads. On this one, things came full circle.