The Obama campaign quickly jumped on John McCain's housing gaffe yesterday by weaving it in to his speeches and releasing a new ad. McCain couldn't remember how many homes he owns. Over 300 publications, top blogs, and MSNBC Countdown we're quick to point to the 2005 Architectural Digest cover (above) featuring the McCain's Phoenix family spread.

The strategy drew return fire from Brian Rogers, a McCain spokesman, opening up old wounds, promising to throw everything back at them:

"We're delighted to have a real estate debate with Barack Obama," said spokesman Brian Rogers, adding that the press should focus on Obama's house. "It's a frickin' mansion. He doesn't tell people that. You have a mansion you bought in a shady deal with a convicted felon."

The felon in question is Tony Rezko. The campaign also promised to bring Rev. Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers back in to the attack track.

A better response would have been: "We have the ranch in Sedona, condos in Phoenix and Arlington Virginia and a few investment properties." It's not the rich part that inflamed the blogosphere, it's not knowing. CarlsBlog has the real estate details.

[image of the cover story via Seeing Red AZ]