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

[naschkatze]

This ad is too soft and fluffy for my taste, but I think it will be a very effective one in that most of the people in this country want feel good ads, particularly in those "red" states. For that reason I give it a thumbs up.

[VOTER]

Well said.

[rmetz74]

Yeah... I think it's important to remember that it's likely aimed at people who still think he's a Muslim, or was born rich, etc.

[kathyhussien]

I heard the Repugs are so afraid of Obama that they are going to force McCain out and put in either Jindal, Crist or Romney at the convention. Because they feel if Obama is elected he will bring the Bush Administration up for war crimes. So we need to get all the information we can on these guys and be ready for their August surprise.

[ebanks84]

You're not far wrong. There will definitely be an August surprise.

[kathyhussien]

I heard the Repug are so afraid that are going to force McCain to step a side at the convention and give the nomination to one of the follwoing Jindal, Romney,Crist or someone else but I can't remember his name. So watch out for the old switch-a-roo. Because they feel if Obama wins, the entire Bush Administration would go to jail. Additionally, think that one of these guys would be a new face and can talk about change to counter Obama. So start searching the web now to get all you can about these guy and be prepared.

[LightUpAmerica]

Fantastic Ad! Hit all the right notes. Succinct and powerful, esp since he's authentic. What a rarity in campaigns.

[MoeSart]

This ad's message is simple: Barack Obama is just like you
----------­----------­----------­-

I didn't attend Ivy Leaque colleges and spend the last 20 years in an America-hating church for the benefit of social contacts for my career.

But, that's just me.

[michaelgp72]

You are biased and truly misinformed, it's so sad!

[Nolewoman]

How hard did you try to go to an Ivy League college? Did you work hard for the grades to go thereby getting scholarships, did you work for the money to go, did you take out student loans in order to pay for your education? Were you denied any of these choices? I can see by your American hating church comment that you are probably too stupid to have had a chance at the Ivy League anyway so do your country a favor and stay home.

[ngannon]

Maybe you should- broaden horizons and all that......­.

[missusam]

Me neither, but I still will vote for him.

You do not have to hate America to point out her hypocrisy and weakness. When you chastize, you love.

[rmetz74]

I'm pretty sure he knows most Americans weren't raised by a single parent, or in a multi-racial household, and didn't become lawyers.

The ad is aimed at people who have bought into the misinformation that has been spread about him.

You're twisting the message to suit your own bias. And yes, that's just you.

[rmetz74]

The explosion of Obama-hating comments is all the evidence we need that it's a great spot :)

[TheOneironaut]

..and let the church say...Amen­!

[LightUpAmerica]

Great ad! He covers all the most needed bases. Gobama!

[VoteLibertarian]

Now he loves this country. He can forget my vote.

[emmav70]

Please , don't do that !

We are lost without you!

NOT !

[RaraAvis17]

What do you mean by NOW? Where do you trolls get your information? We would all love to know so we can figure out if you are mentally disabled or just misinformed. You sound so ridiculous when your shallow comments. Go over to breitbart.com they would love you and take the other trolls with you.

[VoteLibertarian]

freedom of speech..tr­y it!!!

[MsLiz]

You are voting for Babarr.

[ebanks84]

I'll tell him that for you.

[America08]

OBAMA SUPPORTERS AND MCCAIN SUPPORTERS WHY ARE WE STILL PLAYING THESE GAMES? BY NOW EVERYONE ON THIS BLOG KNOWS WHO THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR. WHY DO WE STILL ENGAGE IN THIS BACK AND FORTH? OBAMA IS HOLDING A LEAD, LET'S FOCUS ON THAT. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS GOING TO HATE OBAMA....I­T IS A SAD FACT. DON'T LET THEM GET TO YOU. WE KNOW WHO THE REAL FLIP-FLOPPER IS, WE KNOW WHO IS UNETHICAL AND WILL ONLY LOOK OUT FOR THE RICH.....I­T IS SO CLEAR. MCCAIN SUPPORTERS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE TEARING THEMSELVES UP INSIDE BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE OBAMA. OUR GUY IS WINNING! WE ARE HAPPY AND HOPEFULL..­.THEY AREN'T. DON'T LET THEM GET TO YOU.

OBAMA 2008/2012

[oscarp]

Obama 2034 ! yes!!!! we should eliminate elections !!! we have found THE ONE !!!

[ebanks84]

Ya think!

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

This video is not really aiming for "everyone on this blog." A lot of people out there get there information solely from television, where disinformation and hidden agendas are the norm.

This is a good, simple, clear ad that should resonate with many people who just don't know what (or how...if I may...) to think.

[msmaggie]

So let me get this straight--­television if rife with misinformation. As opposed to the internet. Huh? And that snark about people not knowing how to think: it's that kind of elitist liberal snobbish bullshit that keeps us out of the White House despite having vastly superior candidates.

And to be brutally candid, it has been my experience that the more people talk about the inferior intelligence of others, the less they themselves have to brag about.

[ebanks84]

Aw shucks. You just want to spoil the fun! We get a kick out of getting to them sometimes:)

[soundfury]

I'd like to see the repub opponent speak to the camera with this much candor and authenticity. O is a natural and you just have to look at his eyes to know how much he means what he says. Great job.

[ethearch]

I can't wait to see it on TV.

[Pamela1961]

A little more bull as over the past two weeks he's been running around telling supporters in Philadelphia "if they bring a knife, we bring a gun"...gre­at gang banger language to tell the people in Philly where guns are killing kids as well as knives. Not appropriate language. Then off to Chicago where he gave a decent speech asking Father's to behave like father's and yet saying that the African American male had legitimate reasons for their actions...­.yeah right, there is no legitimate reason to just dump your kid, I don't care if there was slavery or bigotry it's still not a legitimate excuse. Then he goes off to Detroit and gives a similar speech, telling the mostly black crowds "We have to win this at all cost". What's he playing at? A revolution?

Then he backs away from his promise of using the public campaign funding system. I wanted so much to believe this man, but he is nothing but a LIAR and I'm afraid a radical and troublemaker. He is full of bull. All his speeches about hope and change were a bunch of lies to dupe people into voting and supporting him. He's worse then a typical politician. He's the press's messiah who turned out to be a false prophet. Creep!

[emmav70]

You never wanted ( so much ) to believe this man !

Come on , who do you think you're kidding ?

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Yeah, c'mon Pamela, you just changed your mind recently? Ha!

[PoliJunkie]

You were NEVER for Obama! You are always looking for negative things to say about him. Just be honest.

[essentiallypoetic]

Spoken just like an angry Clinton supporter!!

[msmaggie]

Am I the only one who got the allusion to Sean Connery character in The Untouchables with the "knife/gun" line??

[MissT]

The only ones who took his statement literally are those that have no intention of voting for him no matter what he says. There are probably some also, who despite their urge to hate him, when they listen to him speak, have to combat the urge to embrace his positive message.

[soundfury]

So much darkness in this anger. Ignorance is definitely not bliss, and neither is bitterness. How long to you want to hang on to this hopelessness?

[Pamela1961]

Obama and his hope has been the most negative of all the candidates about the United States. He just keeps preaching hope and change and has yet to tell us what it is or how he plans on achieving it. But as I said to another person here, if I have to choose between the lesser of two evils I'll have to hope that Obama grows into the role and stops with the empty rhetoric. He doesn't convey confidence and acts the victim. He needs to grow some ba**s.

[rasquache]

at this rate his next ad might have to be a video of himself saying the pledge of allegiance­...

[msmaggie]

Or visiting a flag factory. Nah, no one would do something that transparent and pandering. Oh wait, I forgot that GHWB moment; that ad was intermingled with the Willie Horton ads. Ah dignity.

[scurryscurryandyshere]

Barack refers to taking jobs to pay for college. Does anyone know what he did? There's no mention in either of his books. I'll bet he wasn't waiting tables or doing manual labor because you know he would've mentioned it over and over by now.

[oscarp]

he must have worked hard, to pay for his "smoking habits"

[PoliJunkie]

He was just able to pay off his student "Loans" last year. You didn't hear that one I guess?

[emmav70]

Oh,scurry , you poor scurry !

Don't worry, Lush is working on it right now . What could it be ? Pimping perhaps? Maybe selling drugs ? OOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOooo­o, Can't wait , can ya ?!

[Loculi]

zomg you're so right! He his side jobs could have been supporting tairists!

[TheOneironaut]

tairist? HA!!

[msmaggie]

Carjacking, dealing, knocking over convenience stores. You know, the usual ghetto stuff.

Keep us posted, wouldja?

[robiform]

Wow, the trolls are out in force today on this thread! I guess the paychecks came in from the RNC, the Swift Boaters, and other such fine (!!) organizations!

It's a nice "introductory" ad--I would like to see follow-ups featuring Obama's positions on various issues that people will be concentrating on in November.