Two new ads from Team Romney over the last 24 hours have the Republican nominee playing offense. First, a new TV spot uses clips from political journalists like CBS’ Bob Schieffer, Time’s Mark Halperin, and the New York Times’ David Brooks wondering where the “Hope and Change” went:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roodiGY0W1A&feature=player_embedded

Both Schieffer and Halperin have complained about being included in the ad:

On “Face the Nation” this morning, Schieffer said he was “shocked” by the ad. “That was a question that I posed to David Axelrod — not a statement,” he said. “I have no affiliation with the Romney campaign. This was done without our permission.”

On Twitter, Halperin wrote, “To echo what NBC News’ Tom Brokaw said in January, when his image and voice were used in a Romney campaign TV ad: ‘I am extremely uncomfortable with the use of my personal image in this political ad. I do not want my role as a journalist compromised for political gain by any campaign.’”

Well, that comes with the territory, doesn’t it?  I’m not sure it actually will make much of an impression outside those already closely engaged in the political battle; most people who aren’t glued to their sets on Sunday mornings or don’t watch MSNBC will know who any of these men are anyway.  However, it’s certainly a fair use of their public statements, although Schieffer’s claim about context is also a fair point.

It won’t make much difference, because the Romney campaign has already shifted its line of attack to a new strategy — this one attacking Obama for using his office to pay off big donors.  Another new ad out today, this one a web ad, features Obama’s impromptu performance of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” while posting headlines from media outlets about Obama’s crony capitalism:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIajeW6xPnI&feature=player_embedded

Expect to see more of this strategy as this week progresses.