Obama clean energy ad airing in Va.

A new ad from President Barack Obama's re-election campaign that touts his energy and ethics record began airing in Virginia this week even as Republican blasted him over a decision to reject a permit for a proposed oil pipeline from Canada.

The 30-second spot (see below) makes a case that Obama's policies have promoted clean energy jobs and reduced the nation's dependence on foreign oil while enduring unfounded attacks funded by wealthy energy industry officials.

Its arrival on the airwaves was greeted by a Republican National Committee spokeswoman who described the message as a sign Obama knows he's in trouble.

"Instead of addressing jobs in his first campaign ad, he’s on defense about failed promises on energy," RNC spokesman Kirsten Kukowski said Thursday in a statement referencing the Keystone XL pipeline decision.

In addition to Virginia, the ad is running in Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin.

-- Julian Walker

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