A statewide radio ad focusing on his plans to lower gas and energy prices was released today by the campaign of incumbent U.S. Rep. Tom Latham.

The 60-second ad, which is the first mass media buy of the 2008 4th District congressional campaign, discusses Latham’s view that Congress needs to work immediately to increase domestic energy supplies.

Four-dollars-a-gallon gas hurts Iowa families, and they’re frustrated with leaders in Congress for not doing more about it – and they have every right to be.

I have always been and will continue to be a strong supporter of alternative energy research and production, but we need to work for solutions that get Iowans from point A to point B without busting their family budget.

It’s no surprise that Latham’s first ad out of the gate focuses on energy. In an interview with the Iowa Independent’s Douglas Burns early this week, Latham emphasized how important the issue is, saying the GOP can capitalize on high gas prices during the 2008 campaign.

Latham is a supporter of increased off-shore drilling and opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve for oil exploration. Critics have said both options would do little to lower America’s dependence on foreign oil or bring the price of energy down but would do irrevocable damage to the environment.

Latham faces Democrat Becky Greenwald and Independent William Meyers this fall. Most believe the race could be much closer than Latham’s previous reelection bids, as register Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in the district for the fist time since district lines were redrawn after the 2000 census.

In response to the ad, Greenwald’s campaign released a statement saying Latham is trying to use advertising to divert attention away from recent votes that stand in the way of reducing gas prices.

Unfortunately, Latham, like George Bush decided to play politics with gas prices. Last week, he voted against a bill that would release 70 million barrels of oil from the strategic oil reserve to bring relief from high gas prices. This bill would bring almost immediate relief to high gas prices. (H. Res. 6578)

And two weeks ago, Latham voted against a bill to force oil companies to drill on existing leases. There are 68 million acres of federal land already leased by oil companies. That is two times the size of the state of Iowa available for energy production that is now sitting idle. (H.R. 615)

Latham’s campaign said the early ad buy resulted from a successful fundraising year to date, out raising his opponents by a ten to one margin.