New Obama Ad Focuses On National Security

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Advertising

On the day Barack Obama is set to give what his campaign bills as a major foreign policy speech – and just a few days before his international tour – the presumptive Democratic nominee's campaign has released a new television ad, "America's Leadership."

The 30-second spot 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.

The spot paints Obama as a pragmatist willing to work across the aisle to eliminate the most pressing national security threats. It spotlights his work with Republican Senator Richard Lugar "to help lock down loose nuclear weapons."

"We are a beacon of light around the world," Obama is shown saying at a town hall as the spot opens. "At least that's what we can be again. That's what we should be again."

Then Obama speaks directly into the camera: "The single most important national security threat that we face," he says, "is nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists."

A black-and-white photograph of weapons appears onscreen, followed by a shot of Obama and Lugar.

"What I did was reach out to Senator Dick Lugar, a Republican, to help lock down loose nuclear weapons," Obama says. "We have to lead the entire world to reduce that threat."

The ad concludes with Obama at the Town Hall meeting.

"We can restore America's leadership in the world," he says.

Watch it: