Apr. 8, Feature - After a few weeks of relative quiet on the airwaves, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both began airing television commercials in Pennsylvania, in preparation for the states primary on April 22. And after a nearly 2 month hiatus, John McCain has produced some new TV commercials to try and re-insert himself into the publics' consciousness. Reporter Andrew Stelzer has more.

Senator Obama, who continues to have a fundraising edge on Senator Clinton, has released several ads in Pennsylvania, one of which contains his much repeated promise about not accepting money from oil companies.

"..since the gas lines of the 70s, democrats and republicans have talked about energy independence, but nothings changed, except Exxon's making 40 billion dollars per year, and were paying 3.50 for gas. I'm Barack Obama, I don't take money from oil companies or their Washington lobbyists, and I wont let them block change anymore."

The claim has generated accusations of being misleading. Obama hasn't received money from the oil companies themselves, their lobbyists, or their political action committees, but according to the center for responsive politics, he has accepted more than $200,000 from individuals who work for oil companies, or their spouses.

Another Obama ad seems designed to attract Republicans, or independents, many of whom have temporarily switched their party registration to Democrat. in order vote in the Democratic primary. The spot Features Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard - a Republican - talking about Obama when the two of them worked together in the Illinois State Legislature.

"there is not a liberal America and a conservative America. There is the United States of America.

[Dillard (R)] " Senator Obama worked on some of the deepest issues we had and he was successful in a bi-partisan way."

Dillard has not endorsed Obama, but his appearance in the ad, which also aired in Iowa, has upset many of his fellow Republicans.

[Dillard (R)] Republican legislators respected Senator Obama. His negotiating skills and the ability to understand both sides would serve the country well."

According to the Aledo Times Record, Dillard was recently passed over for a post as assistant minority leader in the State Senate, and its possible that his support for Obama was a factor.

Earlier this year, Hillary Clinton was criticized for her 3 AM ad, where a white house phone is ringing unanswered, while children are asleep at home. The message was that Barack Obama was not fit to protect Americans national security, and many accused Clinton of using republican-esque scare tactics. In Pennsylvania, Clinton has brought back the ad, except this time, the theme is the economy, and the target is presumed Republican nominee John McCain.

"John McCain just said the government shouldn't take any real action on the housing crisis. He'd let the phone keep ringing. Hillary Clinton has a plan to protect our homes, create jobs. Its 3 AM. Time for a President who's ready."

Clintons focus on McCain is an attempt to convince Pennsylvania's swing state voters, that Clinton is more capable than Obama of beating McCain in November.

In one of the quickest response ads in the campaign thus far, McCain, answered with his own red phone ad, virtually identical, but critical of both Democrats.

"Home foreclosures mounting, markets teetering. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both just said they'd solve the problem by raising your taxes; more money out of your pocket. John McCain has a better plan. Grow jobs, grow our economy, not grow Washington. Its 3 am. Time for a president who's ready."

McCain's new ads are the first that he's put out since the super Tuesday vote, when he wrapped up the Republican nomination. His primary new TV commercial, as well as most of his internet only biographical movies, are heavy on black and white photographs, and focus on his military career.

For Election Unspun, I'm Andrew Stelzer