The National Sierra Club has begun airing a television ad that criticizes U.S. Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) energy plan. The ad buy was first reported by PolitickerNH.com earlier this week.

The Sierra Club has also been airing a radio ad that defends U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester).

The television ad is being released as part of a campaign that includes a television ad from MoveOn.org and reports from the Center for American Progress and Campaign Money Watch.

The thirty-second television ad, "Full Nelson," says that McCain's plan would benefit "big oil."

"Big Oil companies have our economy and politics in a choke hold," the announcer states. "John McCain's answer? Another $4 billion giveaway to Big Oil."

The ad then praises U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) energy plan.

"Barack Obama has a plan the breaks the grip of Big Oil. It invests in clean energy options and gives families energy tax rebates," the ad states.

"Barack Obama and his special interest friends may believe that
Americans should deal with high gas prices by inflating their tires but Americans overwhelmingly agree with John McCain's balanced approach," RNC spokeswoman Blair Latoff said in a statement. "No amount of special interest advertising will fool the American people into believing that ignoring our country's vast resources by continuing to rely on foreign countries is a good way to lower high gas prices."

In addition to airing in the Granite State, the ad will run in Ohio, Colorado and Washington, D.C.

Also:

-NH GOP Chairman Comments on Sierra Club’s New TV Ad