The Ron Paul presidential campaign released on Friday a new national-security ad that will immediately begin airing in early primary states. The ad is part of a $2.5 million advertisement buy over the past two weeks.
The ad, titled "Secure," emphasizes Paul's veteran status and argues the United States should not pursue a role as "the world's policeman." A high-tech graphics package and military imagery frame the Texas lawmaker's mostly dovish national-security platform.
“Ron Paul is the only Republican presidential candidate to put forth the notion that a strong national defense means ending destructive unconstitutional wars having an unclear connection to national security, ending costly state-building in regions where our presence is unwanted, and bringing hundreds of thousands of troops home to make America safer and cut overseas spending,” said campaign spokesman Jesse Benton.
Paul's buy comes as each of the Republican candidates are working to convey their national defense bona fides. Mitt Romney addressed the subject at a speech Friday at the Citadel in South Carolina, and Jon Huntsman has planned a similar address.
The ad also includes an emphasis on border security, a hot topic for the Republican field since Texas Gov. Rick Perry suggested in the last GOP debate that his opponents "didn't have a heart" for objecting to his plan to provide in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants. Perry since has apologized for the statement.
