McCain To Start Ads in Virginia

U.S. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is expected to start airing ads in Virginia on Tuesday.

His campaign bought air time for 60-second TV ads in Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Charlottesville and southwest Virginia.

Virginians have supported Republicans for president for more than three decades. But Democrats have won recent statewide races for governor and U.S. Senate, prompting many political watchers to say Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, may have a shot at winning Virginia. The week-long ad buy means McCain's campaign may not consider Virginia a sure win either.

McCain's campaign did not buy ads in Northern Virginia, according to a source familiar with the media buy. His largest buy was in southwest Virginia, where he is already expected to do well.

Obama has already aired two general election television ads in Virginia.