The longer the campaign drags on, the more Hillary Clinton sounds like John McCain.

Sure, they are united in their derision of Barack Obama. Both have stated they — and each other — are better prepared to be president based upon their longer records holding office (except that Hillary’s record is shorter than Obama’s — whoops!). They also both label the son raised by a single mom who became a shining example of the American success story an “elistist.”

But the parallels don’t end with what they don’t like about Obama. Their policies are amazingly similar as well.

* Iran: McCain would bomb, bomb, bomb Iran. Clinton would “totally obliterate” the country and all its inhabitants. Obama favors direct diplomacy with Iran.

* Health care: McCain bases his plan for health care reform around giving people tax cuts for buying health insurance. HRC bases her plan for health care reform around giving people tax cuts for buying health insurance. Obama models his plan for health care reform on his National Health Insurance Exchange, a watchdog group that will create rules and standards to ensure universal health care for all Americans, regardless of employment status or tax filings.

* Economy: McCain proposes to turn around the economy by suspending gas taxes over the summer, allowing people to drive more and emit more greenhouse gases. Clinton proposes to turn around the economy by suspending gas taxes over the summer, allowing people to drive more and emit more greenhouse gases. Obama says suspending gas taxes is a politically motivated move and proposes developing secure, high-skill jobs based on green technologies that allow America to compete in the worldwide market.

“It would last for three months and it would save you on average half a tank of gas, $25 to $30. That’s what Senator Clinton and Senator McCain are proposing to deal with the gas crisis,” [Obama] said on Tuesday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“This isn’t an idea designed to get you through the summer, it’s an idea designed to get them through an election.”

* Iraq: McCain voted to authorize Bush to invade. Clinton voted to authorize Bush to invade. Obama was not in the U.S. Senate in 2002 but he opposed the invasion from the Illinois senate.

On almost every issue — like taking big bucks and big favors from lobbyists — and all the non-issues — such as whether they like Obama’s former pastor, and whether Obama is “out of touch” with dumb white folk — McCain and Clinton are two peas in a pod.

In one important way they differ. McCain seems committed to keeping personal attacks out of his race. Clinton has based her campaign on them.