By Katharine Jose

March 28, 2008 | 9:59 a.m.

 

Early this morning John McCain's campaign sent out a release heralding this T.V. spot as the "first ad of the general election" and announced that it will "run statewide in the important battleground state of New Mexico," although the release does not say when it will begin airing.

The occasion for the launch of the spot is McCain's "Service to America" tour, which "will highlight the events and figures that shaped his views of right and wrong, forgiveness and grace and the tradition of service and sacrifice ingrained in him from generations of McCains."

The ad's closing line seems an intentionally circular illustration of what that means: "John McCain. The American President Americans have been waiting for."