Pro-Obama Super PAC Ad in N.M. Links Romney to “Big Oil”

A new television ad that begins airing in New Mexico today accuses “Big Oil” of smearing President Obama’s record on energy and gas prices.

The television spot counters an anti-Obama ad (also paid for by a Super PAC) that launched in New Mexico two weeks ago criticizing Obama’s record on gas prices.

The new ad, paid for by the pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action, claims oil companies are backing Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney because he would protect their profits.

“Who’s behind this ad smearing President Obama?” the ad says. “Big Oil, that’s who. The money they make from high gas prices is going right into Mitt Romney’s campaign. Big oil executives have pledged two hundred million to help him.

“And Mitt Romney’s pledged to protect their record profits – and their billions in special tax breaks too.

“These guys all profit.  You pay the price.”

Obama visited New Mexico on March 21 to tout his energy policies.

The Priorities USA ad that launched in New Mexico today is also airing  Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia.

Paul Begala, a former advisor to President Clinton, a frequent CNN contributor and a senior advisor to Priorities USA Action, explained the motivation for the ad.

“While President Obama is taking serious action to make America less dependent on dirty and dangerous sources of Middle East oil and create clean energy jobs here at home, Mitt Romney and the oil companies bankrolling his campaign are profiting from high gas prices politically and financially,” Begala said in a statement. “How can the American people trust Governor Romney to bring down gas prices when he and his biggest backers benefit so much from gas prices being so high?”