Republican Sen. Johnson launches first television ad of the campaign season

MADISON — Republican Sen. Ron Johnson's first television ad of his re-election campaign draws a sharp contrast between his background and that of his Democratic opponent Russ Feingold.

The spot unveiled Tuesday is part of a $1.3 million television ad buy.

Johnson appears on the floor of the Oshkosh manufacturing company Pacur that he helped build and where he worked as chief executive officer before being elected to the Senate in 2010.

Johnson says, "Career politicians manufacture hogwash. I manufacture plastic."

That is a jab at Feingold, who is not mentioned in the ad but who Johnson and his allies have labeled as a career politician.

Feingold spokesman Michael Tyler says "Senator Johnson is not manufacturing anything now, he's just a typical politician who votes time and time again to send Wisconsin's jobs overseas."