Speaking in Indianapolis today to a group of fundraisers, Obama addressed his image problem:

"I do think one of the ironies of the past two or three weeks is this idea that Michelle and I are elitist, intellectual pointy-head types. The fact is our lives more closely approximate the lives of the average voters than any of the other candidates," he said. "We didn't recognize the caricature that was being painted of us over the last couple of weeks."

It's probably a good thing that Obama is talking like this. It means his campaign doesn't have a tin ear when it comes to this perception and better to address it sooner than later. John Kerry, for instance, had the same problem, and to address it he went windsurfing.

Of course half of the "elitist" image comes from Michelle herself. Bemoaning Ivy League loans and telling the middle-class to be teachers instead of going into business didn't really help.

(ht: Halperin)