Or maybe they are seeing that they need to do something to get their base re-energized and re-contributing?
The statement did in fact sound encouraging to supporters.
Fair point, I didnt consider that because I figured that would happen when they aired the ads so why announce it?
Quite possibly though the real answer is the simplest: that they got indications that Obama was teeing up the Keating five thing as a means of smearing McCain as in bed with the financial community for decades and how it was really all his fault and so they on the offensive first.