The curtailed campaign of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Simmons unveiled its new ad today.
Simmons has called the 30-second spot a public service announcement, but make no mistake: this is a paid political ad. Wearing a grayish cotton shirt and gesticulating with his hands, Simmons speaks directly to the camera. A series of images drift by in the background and a guitar strums softly beneath his words.
"Today it's important to vote with your heart and your head,'' Simmons said before criticizing government bailouts and paying homage to the traditional GOP touchstones -- small business and national security.
"In the Republican primary on Aug. 10, you do have a choice,'' he says. "I'm Rob Simmons, I;m still on the ballot and I approve this message.''