Townhall voter to McCain: “I’m mad! I’m really mad!”

WAUKESHA, Wis., Oct. 9 -- There were shouts of "Nobama" and "Socialist" at the mention of the Democratic presidential nominee. There were boos, middle fingers turned up and thumbs turned down as a media caravan moved through the crowd Thursday for a midday town hall gathering featuring John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Some McCain campaign officials are becoming concerned about the hostility that attacks against Sen. Obama are whipping up among Republican supporters. During an internal conference call Thursday, campaign officials discussed how the tenor of the crowds has turned on the media and on Sen. Obama.

The risk in all of this, of course, is looking out of touch in the current environment where the country's entire focus is on the economy. Already, we're hearing whispers -- even among some Dems -- wondering why the McCain folks decided to use Ayers now and not two months ago when they instead went the empty rhetoric/celebrity route.