Obama was playing the race card with his shameful 'dollar-bill' comments. It was the most vicious personal attack this whole campaign. Don't you remember? It got covered for weeks.
McCain would never try to exploit Obama's difference to flame fear and anger. He's way too honorable for that.
I do remember when a lot of pundits were doing the "FOR SHAME" routine when he said this stuff because they said Obama was making dishonorable assumptions about his opponent. Guess what?
"But I thought the ferry just cost a nickel! A dollar's real big money you know, at least it was back in my day. The important thing to remember is that I was wearing an onion on my belt, which was the fashion at the time."