13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Obama ad hits airwaves

Obama ad hits airwaves

Tom Walker/Eyewitness News

Washington - A rare sight hit the airwaves in Indiana Friday - an ad for a presidential candidate for the November election.

Senator Barack Obama made the point to Democratic governors about the need for rapid rail reaching out to Hoosiers and others in the heartland.

"That suddenly becomes a very viable option, the same is true going to St. Louis, the same is true going to Indianapolis," Obama said.

Also Friday, his first advertisement for the general election appeared on television, reaching out to Indiana voters by talking up heartland values.

"Accountability, self-reliance, love of country, working hard without making excuses," the ad listed.

The last time any presidential nominee placed an ad on the air in Indiana, Bob Dole was running in 1996. No Democrat has ever aired an ad in the state.

"I'm excited about it because it gives people in Indiana a chance to understand who he is and the values he shares with the rest of the Hoosier State," said Melina Kennedy, an Obama supporter.

But Eyewitness News' Republican political analyst Peter Rusthoven sees the ad differently.

"Here's someone who has to go on air in 18 states to tell people he's American? I think it's extraordinary," he said.

Some believe the hard-fought primary battle against Hillary Clinton gave Obama valuable exposure in Indiana and a running start against John McCain. A Democratic presidential candidate hasn't won the state since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Kennedy says the ad shows Indiana is now in play.

"I know his campaign believes it's competitive here, so they're bringing people and resources here, so it's very exciting for us," Kennedy said.

While Obama campaigned heavily in Indiana before the May 6th primary, he narrowly lost to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who spent even more time in the state.

"He frittered away millions of dollars of spending in Indiana, he frittered away a lead and he couldn't win the primary in Indiana. So I think he has a lot of catching up to do," said Murray Clark of the Indiana Republican Party.

McCain was in Canada Friday, defending NAFTA, the controversial free trade agreement.

"Because it is critical to the future of so many Canadian and American workers and businesses," McCain said.

His camp says Hoosiers won't go along with Obama's plans to "raise taxes on small businesses and seniors" no matter how much he spends in Indiana. McCain was last in Indiana in February for a town hall meeting and is returning July 1 for a fundraiser. At last report, he trailed Obama in money raised by more than a two-to-one margin.

Rusthoven says he doesn't think the Republican candidate will have to run ads in Indiana just because his opponent is.

"Oh my gosh, the ads are in Indiana. What does this mean? It means he has money to burn, if John McCain doesn't carry Indiana, he won't be elected president, so it's not a wise expenditure," he said.

Some believe Obama may be spending ad money in Indiana only to force McCain to do the same in states he's expected to win. Others say Obama does appear to be trying to expand the playing field into the Midwest.

"Right straight across a band of states starting on the east coast with New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio and Indiana, going right across there, they all have very similar demographics and very similar economic conditions," said Clay Richards of Quinnipiac University Poll.

There was also word Friday that Obama and Hillary Clinton will campaign together for the first time next week.