On NoVa TV, It's All About McDonnell

The big political race of the moment might be the Democratic primary for governor, but for Northern Virginia television watchers, it feels more like September. That's because none of the three men seeking the Democratic nomination have yet gone on air in the expensive D.C. television market, but, as of today, Bob McDonnell is up and running.

McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin said the Republican's buy is a significant foray onto both cable and broadcast. He's got two ads running, one a variation of the "experience" ad running elsewhere in the state, but with a specific note of what McDonnell learned growing up in Fairfax. The other is a light-hearted positive spot focused on McDonnell's family--a little reminiscent of the Gov. Tim Kaine's spot with his kids four years ago.

Meanwhile, Democratic PAC Common Sense Virginia appears to have upped its buy of anti-McDonnell ads in Northern Virginia, putting up a new version of its spots slamming McDonnell over unemployment benefits.

All the action is funded by the millions now being poured into the race by the Democratic Governors Association and the Republican Governor's Association, which has now forced McDonnell to spend money early, preventing him from hoarding it for the fall.

Here's the latest from Common Sense Virginia, up today. Its spokesman Yoni Cohen said that McDonnell is "desperate to silence our advertising because he knows our ads speak the truth."