Obama’s re-election campaign launches first round of TV ads in Nevada

By Anjeanette Damon

Monday, April 2, 2012 | 3:31 p.m.

Let the ad wars begin.

President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is launching its first round of television ads in Nevada this week.

The modest ad buy in Reno and Las Vegas is in response to a heavily funded ad campaign from the American Energy Alliance attacking Obama his administration’s energy policies and high gas prices.

The Obama campaign’s buy in Nevada is a fraction of what the American Energy Alliance is spending, according to one source.

Obama’s ad defends the administration’s record on oil production and energy policy and — in an indication the GOP nominating contest may be winding to a close — attacks former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for backing oil company tax breaks.

“So why is big oil attacking (Obama)?” the Obama ad asks. “Because he’s fighting to end their tax breaks. He’s raising mileage standards and doubling renewable energy. In all these fights, Mitt Romney’s stood with big oil — for their tax breaks, attacking higher mileage standards and renewables.”

The Obama campaign’s ad is running in Nevada and four other swing states that were part of the American Energy Alliance’s $3.6 million ad buy.

The American Energy Alliance, which is funded by the oil industry and has ties to the Koch brothers, attacks Obama for his opposition to the Keystone Pipeline and other polices.

Responding to Obama’s ad, Darren Littell, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, mocked what Obama calls his “all-of-the-above” energy policy.

“Obama is panicked because his none-of-the-above energy strategy has failed to do anything about soaring gas prices that are hurting families across the country,” Littell said.