PAC funds anti-Obama TV ad in California

An independent political action committee is spending $2.2 million to air a television ad across California, starting today, that criticizes Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on national security issues. The group, Vets for Freedom, has been active in several battleground states. But this is its first ad buy in California, which is considered to be firmly in Obama's column. His Republican rival, John McCain, is making only token campaign efforts in the state. Former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, who is backing McCain, said the commercial is not specifically aimed at turning Californians against Obama. But "if people are persuaded by the ads, it can only help -- not just Sen. McCain but anyone else who shares [the group's] view," he said. Issue advocacy commercials don't expressly support or oppose a particular candidate but can be used to sway an election's outcome. The Vets for Freedom spot will air in all California markets except the Bay Area over the next week.