A political action committee called PowerPAC is airing pro-Obama ads in New Mexico, ads they say are designed to target Hispanics. The ads will air in both English and Spanish throughout the state on network and cable TV.

“The Southwest is clearly the critical battleground of the 2008 election, and we know that we cannot win the Southwest without winning a significant portion of Hispanic voters,” said PowerPAC Chairman Steve Phillips in a press release from the group.

The ad begins, "Barack Obama believes it shouldn’t matter if you look different. It shouldn’t matter if your name is unusual."

Obama’s name has been called unusual in the past. Obama looks different from candidates from major parties of the past — he is the first African American to win a major party’s nomination.

The pro-Obama ads never sepecifically mention Hispanics in the state, but do show people of many races, including Hispanics; and a Spanish-language ad is clearly targeted ad the Hispanic demographic.

Hispanics are not a given for Obama in New Mexico. Democratic elected officials say the presidential nominee may face an uphill battle in luring certain parts of the community to his candidacy.

The buy for the ads is "about" $250,000 according to PowerPAC.

But airing ads is not the only thing PowerPAC will be using its money for. The PAC’s strategy "includes running ads and identifying and training rising Hispanic leaders not only in New Mexico but in Colorado and Nevada as well." If Kerry had won Colorado and Nevada, he would have won the electoral college.

The ad ends, "Barack Obama, a new kind of leader, just like you."

.