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Graham, Bounced From Debate, Launches First 2016 Ads in New Hampshire

Graham 2016
Screenshot from Lindsey Graham's first television ad in N.H.

With less than three months until the New Hampshire primary, Republican presidential candidate Lindsey Graham has begun airing his first television and radio ads in the state.

Graham has been among the most avid on-the-ground campaigners in the state: Since August, he's spent 33 days here. But this will be the first time Graham has spent money on ads.

The focus of both the television and radio ads is U.S. Senator Arizona John McCain, a two-time winner of the New Hampshire primary who's joined Graham on the campaign trail for months. In the ads, McCain highlights Graham’s 30 years of military experience, saying he is the only candidate who has the expertise to combat ISIS.

McCain also points to the state’s role in the presidential nominating process.

"You have a big role in choosing our next president – make it count,” McCain said.

Other than brief black and white still image surrounded by military members, Graham himself does not appear in the ad.

The radio ads are called “Guts” and “Consider” and the television ad is called “Make it Count.” They hit the air one week after Fox Business News announced, that due to low poll numbers, Graham and former N.Y. Gov. George Pataki won't appear in any of the network's debate Tuesday night in Wisconsin. 

Last week, businessman Donald Trump spent $300,000 on his first radio ads in the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Both Trump and Graham are a little late to the advertising game in New Hampshire. Republican candidates Rand Paul and Ted Cruz have been running ads since April, Chris Christie since July, and Jeb Bush and Ben Carson since late this summer.

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