Obama's First General Election Ad: "Country I Love" (VIDEO)

"The Obama campaign today announced the release of its first television advertisement for the general election," an Obama camp press release states. "The sixty second ad, entitled "Country I Love," will begin airing in eighteen states across the country tomorrow to highlight how our shared values have shaped Senator Obama's life."

In the spot, Senator Obama speaks to voters about the core values this nation was founded on and how they have guided him to work hard for his education, to bypass jobs on Wall Street to work as a community organizer, and to lead the fight for America's families and veterans as an Illinois and United States Senator.

The ad presents Senator Obama's record of passing laws to reform welfare, to cut taxes for working families, and to ensure America's veterans have the health care they deserve.

The ad will air in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Virginia.

Watch the ad:

Washington Post's Chris Cillizza notes:

It's clear from this ad that the Obama campaign recognizes that it must educate voters about his background in order to counter the slew of negative information being moved via whisper campaigns and email chains already in this race.

This ad's message is simple: Barack Obama is just like you. He knows what it's like to start with little and work your way up, he loves his country, he loves his family.

It's a powerful opening salvo -- aided by a candidate who looks natural delivering the message. It's also an important sign of the work still facing the Obama campaign in the coming weeks and months.

Many voters know little of Obama and are hungry for more information. Do they get that information from the candidate or from other sources that are far less favorably inclined to the Illinois senator? It's a key question heading into the fall.

Comments

[joeyp404]

I got a tingle up my leg.

[AndrewShuttleworth]

Heh. Just about. They really did do a nice job with this one.

[SaulGood]

well, ask mommy to take you for a walk, honey.

[Harrygton]

Nice and homey! I like it as an introduction of who he is... maybe a little bit too dignified but I suppose he has to look presidential!

[cindyw]

But won't dignified be a nice change from eight years of doofus?

[ladyv]

You know, one of the smartest things Obama has done all along is refused to be undignified.

A President or candidate for the office shouldn't answer questions about what kind of underwear s/he wears. They shouldn't be *asked* that question, but that's how inured we've become as a society to inappropriate discourse. Any time someone has attempted to force him to behave in an indecorous manner and gotten overly familiar with him, he's shut them right down - like the reporter after the last debate who came up to him on the bus and offered him a pillow. Obama just silently took the pillow and put it aside. And that's exactly what he should do. It's unconscionable that over the past few decades we've gotten used to Presidents who entertain that kind of nonsense, which had led to an exponential increase in the amount of nonsense thrown at them.

[ahsaki80]

Simple and to the point... great ad! Wonder what's coming to TX.

[SandraB]

That's a true President. Not fear mongering, not phoney promises, not hating and lashing out at imagined enemies...

GO OBAMA!!

[midwesthousewife]

Very nice. He has re-introduced himself well.

[UrsaMajority]

Verrrrry nice spot. With all the brouhaha about possibly electing the first "black" president, it's also important to me to be able to claim that he'd equally as much be the first "white" Kansan as president since Eisenhower. Those are the folks who raised him! My grandfather was from Kansas, and we get to claim him too.

[RasAlula]

Yes you do, as do all hard working, honest and loving Americans! This is a great ad and a much needed ad.

[hi5dud3n355]

nice.

[coba]

yeah this is a beautiful ad its like the best nice wholesome ad i have ever seen.

http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/obama-hits-mcbush-on-foreign-policy/

[PorkBelly]

18 states!

Big first ad buy!

Time to bleed McCain dry.

[AdamND]

I'm suprised they are airing it in North Dakota my state. I think it will do well here.

[BEHM777]

Good job.

[methepeople]

that was good.