The Obama campaign has released the first new TV ad since locking up the nomination. The 60-second ad, entitled "Country I Love," is biographical, similar to ads Obama used to introduce himself in many of the primary campaigns. You can watch it below.

The ad will begin airing in 18 states tomorrow. The states are Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia. I'm sure people will look at that as a first-draft of a list of swing states. If so, what are Alaska, Indiana and North Dakota doing on there.

I suspect people may also notice that, without mentioning race, Obama shows himself with his white mother and his white grandparents, makes no mention of his African father and the supporting cast in the rest of the shots is almost all white. It's a little pitiful to think this, but while the country comes to terms with having a black nominee, stuff like that will get noticed and discussed.