The campaign of attorney Sharen Neuhardt (D-Yellow Springs) released a new TV ad that they say exposes opponent state Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) for who he really is.

"Steve Austria is another career politician filling his campaign coffers with thousands of dollars from some of the very people who pushed our country into an economic crisis," said Neuhardt spokesperson Jessica Kershaw. "Austria's best friends are Big Oil and Big Money. He'll be no friend to the voters of this District."

The 30-second ad titled, "Bought and Paid For" highlights what the Neuhardt campaign calls the tens of thousands of dollars Austria has taken from big money special interests.

The Neuhardt camp says this includes "at least $111,000 from health care and insurance interests, at least $53,000 from banking and finance interests, and at least $36,400 from Big Oil and energy interests."

"Steve Austria is clearly worried about the major challenge Neuhardt poses in this race," said Kershaw. "He's taken countless thousands of dollars from big money special interests in an attempt to shore up this race. Sharen knows the residents of the 7th District won't be fooled. They know Steve Austria is beholden to Big Money."