Some of those states would have been conceded early on other campaigns.

...Seeing some action in the presidential race.

the way he finishes it: "I approve this message because. . ." It sounds less phony than the ads in which the candidate's voiceover just chimes in at the end with, "I'm so-and-so and I approve this message." Gracefully done.

What do you think?  Seems like a pretty nice ad.  I do kind of chuckle a bit that the minute the Democratic primary wraps up, it's time to put that flag pin back on!

I love it! What a great intro to a candidate. It seems odd that an intro would still be needed but there are still lots of people who pay no attention to primaries and will start paying attention soon.

I like how he emphasizes welfare-to-work, and I wonder how the Kos will react. I thought they hated DLC Clintonite Democrats. but welfare reform was Bill Clinton's most high profile achievement in terms of a single bill.

to go to youtube and rec and fav this video!

I like how he definitely makes reference to centrist values ("Accountability, Self-Reliance, and Love of Country, Working Hard without Making Excuses", and then slipping in "Treating your neighbor the way you'd like to be treated", which I see a liberal value) without trying to be Republican-lite.  There is something in the middle other than simply repeating less extreme version of GOP talking points.

He also slips in the "I have white connections too" card with his grandparents and more subtly with the reference to Steelworkers.  He will never win the true racists but there are some, especially older and working class, whites who have some residual misgivings about a black man in the WH that are vague enough that this kind of thing reassures them.  

"Welfare to work", "Cut taxes for the working class" and "help wounded troops" are a little bit GOP-lite but they're completely compatible with central Democratic ideals of giving people a fair shot.  

Some random thoughts...

Here in PA the McCain intro ad (and now a new one) have been getting steady rotation but I haven't seen anything from Obama since the primary yet.

McCain's into ad is a decent introduction, but it doesn't really speak to political policy and results as well as the Obama ad, just talks about his war service and vague "experience" or whatever.

Obama managed to introduce himself and make a few of his accomplishments known.  Maybe it's an intentional contrast, all McCain talks about in the short bio of the ad is his military service and war...Obama doesn't even mention it.  Not to say he doesn't have policy on it, but that it doesn't define him.  If all McCain can think about it war, can we trust him to END this one?  Really, I think most people just want it to end at this point, they don't need more fairy tales about peaceful dream world Iraq.

This would mirror his rhetorical strategy about McCain's silly challenge to go to Iraq.  Obama turned it around by talking about the home front.

and says what needs to be said right now  HEY WHITE FOLKS, DON'T BE SCARED OF ME

Great ad. Very positive. Honest. The Wall Street thing is a little unclear to me, but I think people will figure it out.

Great ad to kick off with. Needs to pound with this for a month to six weeks to clearly define him in the public mind. The personality area is really the only area where McCain is competitive with him. Having defined himself rather than let Charlie Black and Karl Rove do it then he can move onto the issues.