Barack Obama and his campaign went on the offensive today, gleefully seizing upon John McCain’s comments to Politico, where the Republican senator couldn’t remember exactly how many homes he and his very wealthy wife Cindy own. “I think — I’ll have my staff get to you,” McCain said when asked.

Cue the Obama campaign, which has been attempting to paint the Republican as out of touch with regular Americans. After McCain told Pastor Rick Warren at a forum in California last weekend that his definition of rich was those making $5 million, Obama has mentioned it at nearly every event, joking that if you’re pulling in $3 million, you must be middle class.

At a town hall outside of Richmond, Virginia, the Democrat was sure to point out the gaffe. “Somebody asked John McCain, ‘How many houses do you have?’ and he said, ‘I’m not sure - I’ll have to check with my staff.’ True quote! ‘I’m not sure, I’ll have to check with my staff.’ So they asked his staff and he said, ‘At least four.’ ‘At least four.’ Now think about that – I guess if you think that being rich means you gotta make five million dollars, and if you don’t’ know how many houses you have, then it’s not surprising that you might think the economy is fundamentally strong!” he said incredulously.

And while he may have pulled in $4.2 million last year himself (not quite rich according to John McCain), Obama the every man continued, “But if you’re like me and you’ve got one house, or you were like the millions of people who are struggling right now to keep up with their mortgage so that they don’t lose their home, you might have a different perspective.”

Obama Most Americans, however, have the perception that the Democrat is “an elitist” - partly because both former rival Hillary Clinton and the GOP have used some of Obama’s less than eloquent statements. Remember arugula? Or bitter?

In case you forgot, the McCain camp quickly responded to Obama’s comments with a statement to remind voters. “Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people “cling” to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who’s in touch with regular Americans?” a McCain spokesman said.

It is true that Obama leads a privileged life today with his large home in Chicago and having the resources to send his children to a private school, but the candidate comes from a modest background - something he’s had to inform voters along the campaign trail.

Back in April when his “bitter” remarks were at their peak in the news cycle, Obama was asked about the elitist description at a town hall. “I am amused about this notion,” he began, describing being raised by a single mom who relied on food stamps, only recently paying off student loans. “When somebody makes that argument, particularly given that I spent my entire life working with workers, low income communities to try to make people’s lives a little bit better, then that’s when you know we’re in political silly season,” he said.

While the war between the two candidates as to who is more in our out of touch with regular Americans is likely to continue through the election, Obama happily pointed out today that McCain owns seven homes and his campaign put out an ad called “Seven.”

Stay tuned for the McCain camp’s response, which is sure to come.

CLEVELAND, OH — Sen. McCain reiterated today to reporters that he intends to keep it clean and not cast his opponent as an elitist despite the push by some in the GOP strategists to do just that.

“There are differences that we have on our outlook on major challenges we face and obviously I think its legitimate to point those out. But you can do that, and I believe I am doing that in a respectful fashion,” McCain said aboard his bus Friday. “And it’s not respectful for me to say that he is an elitist or uh, I am not saying that. I am saying that we have a different approach to many issues. That should be I think a reason for people to make a judgment.”

Former Bush adviser and Fox New Political Contributor Karl Rove reportedly said of Obama this week, “he’s the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by.

Full exchange on the topic from the wide-ranging conversation aboard his Straight Talk bus today.

Q: What do you think about Karl Rove’s contention that Obama is an arrogant elitist type?

McCain: “Look I respect and admire Senator Obama, and if I have ever treated him in a disrespectful way I don’t know of it but more importantly as the campaigning goes forward I will treat him with respect that the nominee of the party has earned. And Americans want a respectful debate. The don’t want us to finger point and question each other’s character and integrity. So all I can say is that I question—-let me put it this way. There are differences that we have on our outlook on major challenges we face and obviously I think its legitimate to point those out. But you can do that, and I believe I am doing that in a respectful fashion. And its not respectful for me to say that he is an elitist or uh, I am not saying that. I am saying that we have a different approach to many issues. That should be I think a reason for people to make a judgment.”

Q: You have pointed out “bitter” and “cling.’ Some people view that as, when the campaign brings up bitter and cling, that is a way of saying he is elitist or out of touch with mainstream Americans?

McCain: “I don’t think that it is I am portraying him as elitist as much as I am saying that is not my view of the small towns in Pennsylvania that he was talking about. I think that they respect their constitutional rights and cherish them. And I think they have their religious beliefs not to have anything to do with anything about the economy. So we just have a very different opinion. That does mean to me that he is an elitist. It just means that he has a very different view of what his fundamentals of the heartland of America.”

Expect Camp McCain to continue to paint Obama as elitist and out of touch throughout the next six months–today throwing his judicial philosophy in with his “bitter” and “cling” comments, arugula references and opposition to a gas tax holiday.

McCain said today:

• “Somehow, by Senator Obama’s standard, even Judge Roberts didn’t measure up. And neither did Justice Samuel Alito. Apparently, nobody quite fits the bill except for an elite group of activist judges, lawyers, and law professors who think they know wisdom when they see it — and they see it only in each other.”

But Obama–who has had a problem appealing to white middle class voters in recent Democratic primaries (being called the “Bubba Gap”)–had his own push back for McCain on ABC’s Nightline Monday night:

• “My upbringing was much more reflective of what working class black and whites go through than John McCain’s background being raised as the son of an admiral in boarding schools.”

For the first time, Senator John McCain talked about Senator Barack Obama’s “bitter” remarks with reporters on board his campaign plane en route to Pittsburgh today. McCain said Obama has a “fundamental misunderstanding of the American people” which may be “defining” of the senator’s views about the nation’s heartland.

Check out what he had to say here - and watch how he reacts when asked what kind of gun he’s planning on taking duck hunting…the reporter is referring to Senator Obama mocking Hillary Clinton as “Annie Oakley,” going out duck hunting every Sunday with a six-shooter.

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John McCain’s campaign certainly did not ignore Barack Obama’s “bitter” remarks over the weekend, but the candidate himself did not publicly respond to them since he spent the weekend away from the press at his home in Arizona.

Today McCain acknowledged his Democratic rival’s remarks for the first time, while addressing the AP’s Annual Convention in Washington, DC. “Before I take your questions, I would like to respond briefly to the comments one of my opponents made the other day about the psychology and political mindset of Americans living in small towns and other areas that have experienced the loss of industrial jobs,” McCain began. Rather than attack Senator Obama for what his campaign called “elitist” and condescending remarks, McCain paid tribute to those some say Obama offended.

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Referring to the generation that rose out of the Great Depression, McCain credited them for saving the world during WW2 and for building up the nation. “They suffered the worst during the Depression. But it had not shaken their faith in and fidelity to America and its founding political ideals. Nor had it destroyed their confidence that America and their own lives could be made better. Nor did they turn to their religious faith and cultural traditions out of resentment and a feeling of powerlessness to affect the course of government or pursue prosperity. On the contrary, their faith had given generations of their families purpose and meaning, as it does today. And their appreciation of traditions like hunting was based in nothing other than their contribution to the enjoyment of life,” McCain said.

McCain also insinuated Senator Obama’s remarks were directed at those who defend this nation in times of war. “They are the heart and soul of this country, the foundation of our strength and the primary authors of its essential goodness. They are our inspiration, and I look to them for guidance and strength. No matter their personal circumstances, they believed in this country. They revered its past, but most importantly they believed in its future greatness, a greatness they themselves would create. They never forgot who they were, where they came from, and what is possible in America, a country founded on an idea and not on class, ethnic or sectarian identity. And America must not and will not forget them.”

Later during the question and answer period of his Washington, DC, event, Associated Press reporters asked McCain point blank if he thought Obama was an elitist. “I don’t know,” McCain replied. “I think those comments are elitist,” he said, adding that Obama’s view is  “a fundamental contradiction” of how he sees America.

When pressed if Obama’s elitist remarks make him an elitist, McCain admitted, “I don’t know because I don’t know him very well.” McCain stated that he looked forward to the debate between himself and his Democratic rival, whomever that may be. “I wish it wasn’t so, wish the debate wasn’t so protracted, but certainly I look forward to it,” he said with a smile.

Harrisburg, PA — Sen. Clinton continued her assault on Sen. Obama Sunday night after he accused her of taking his words out of context and exclaimed “shame on her” during a campaign event today.

Asked about his “shame” remarks at a CNN-sponsored forum at Messiah College tonight, Clinton responded:

“Well he will have to speak for himself and provide his own explanation. But I do think it raises a lot of concerns and weve seen that exhibited in the last several days by ppl in here in Pennsylvania, in Indiana where I was yesterday and elsewhere because it did seem so much in line with what often we are charged with. Someone goes to a closed-door fundraiser in San Francisco and makes comments that do seem elitist, out of touch and frankly, patronizing. That has nothing to do with him being a good man or a man of faith. We had tow very good men and men of faith run for president in 2000 and 2004 but large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand or relate to or frankly respect their ways of life. And I think that is an issue for voters as I’ve heard today from people I visited in Scranton and elsewhere. So this is, this is a legitimate political issue. And there are some issues that are not but this one is.”

In a written statement released Sunday, Clinton spokesman Phil Singer was a little more pointed, referring to Obama’s remarks as an “outburst.”

“For months, Barack Obama and his campaign have relentlessly attacked Hillary Clinton’s character and integrity by using Republican talking points from the 1990s. The shame is his,” Singer said. “Sen. Clinton does know better — she knows better than to condescend and talk down to voters like Senator Obama did. Senator Obama’s outburst won’t change the fact that he has embraced his characterization of the millions of Americans who live in small towns.”

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Indianapolis, IN - Sen. Clinton stepped her attacks on Obama Saturday seizing on his remarks about small town American resentment as “demeaning” and “elitist,” during a speech at a manufacturing plant in the Hoosier state.

“I was taken aback by the demeaning remarks Senator Obama made about people in small town America. Senator Obama’s remarks are elitist and they are out of touch. They are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans. Certainly not the Americans that I know - not the Americans I grew up with, not the Americans I lived with in Arkansas or represent in New York,” she told a group of factory workers at a transmission plant in the key May 6 primary state.

She relentlessly attacked Obama’s original remarks point by point today for nearly five minutes (VIDEO above), as the NY Senator seeks to reinforce the argument that her Democratic rival is out of touch with average Americans.

“You know, Americans who believe in the Second Amendment believe it’s a matter of Constitutional rights. Americans who believe in God believe it is a matter of personal faith. Americans who believe in protecting good American jobs believe it is a matter of the American Dream,” Clinton said. “The people of faith I know don’t “cling to” religion because they’re bitter. People embrace faith not because they are materially poor, but because they are spiritually rich…people of all walks of life hunt, and they enjoy doing so because it’s an important part of their life, not because they are bitter.”

The Clinton campaign sees the Obama statement as a major gaffe which they will seize on in the runup to the PA, NC and IN primaries as they attempt to strike at the heart of Obama’s message of unity.

“If we are striving to bring people together - and I believe we should be - I don’t think it helps to divide our country into one America that is enlightened and one that is not,” she said. “People don’t need a president who looks down on them; they need a president who stands up for them. And that is exactly what I will do as your president. Because I believe if you want to be the president of all Americans, you need to respect all Americans. And that starts with respecting our hard working Americans”

The McCain campaign unloaded on Barack Obama today for his remarks at a San Francisco fundraiser last weekend, where the Democrat said “bitter” Pennsylvania voters “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

“It is a remarkable statement and extremely revealing,” McCain advisor Steve Schmidt told reporters on board the McCain campaign plane today. “It shows an elitism and condescension towards hardworking Americans that is nothing short of breathtaking. It is hard to imagine someone running for president who is more out of touch with average Americans.”

Schmidt said Obama’s remarks hit the “heart and soul of this country” and predicted Obama would have difficulty connecting with voters. “I think people will resent it and be very angry about it because that is not how most Americans view themselves. That’s now how most Americans view their lives in terms of practicing their faith or exercising their Second Amendment rights or having a desire to secure the borders in the country,” he explained.

When Obama later defended his remarks to voters in Indiana, a McCain spokesman fired back, “Instead of apologizing to small town Americans for dismissing their values, Barack Obama arrogantly tried to spin his way out of his outrageous San Francisco remarks. Only an elitist who attributes religious faith and gun ownership to bitterness would think that tax cuts for the rich include families who make $75,000 per year. Only an elitist would say that people vote their values only out of frustration. Barack Obama thinks he knows your hopes and fears better than you do. You can’t be more out of touch than that.”