BY WESLEY P. HESTER

The Republican National Committee is out with its first TV ad of the presidential election, offering the message that “it’s OK” not to vote for President Barack Obama. 

The 30-second ad, airing in Virginia and six other swing states, makes no mention of GOP candidate Mitt Romney. Instead, it seems geared toward independents and disenchanted Democrats, gently making a case against Obama, rather than for his rival.

“President Obama came to the White House with big plans. He’d halve the deficit, strengthen the economy, lower unemployment,” the narrator says. “What did we get? National debt over $15 trillion and climbing. Unemployment above 8 percent for 40 straight months. An ongoing economic crisis with no end in sight.” 

The ad closes: “He tried. You tried. It’s OK to make a change.”