Hutchison buys ad time during BCS championship game

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) will take to the airwaves on Thursday during college football's national championship game.

Hutchison has bought time in Texas for a 30-second spot during the national championship game in which her alma mater, the University of Texas Longhorns, will face off against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

The ad, which costs between $100,000 and $200,000, according to the Dallas Morning News, is a big salvo in her GOP primary campaign against incumbent Gov. Rick Perry (R), who's battling to win a third term.

The ad isn't the first time this bowl season a senator has made an ad buy to talk to his or her constituents. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) bought time during last week's Holiday Bowl between Nebraska and Arizona to explain his controversial healthcare vote to constituents.

Hutchison, a former cheerleader for the Longhorns, will attend the game, which will be held Thursday at the Rose Bowl.