Romney camp debuts first TV ad

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney's first general-election TV commercial promises he would introduce tax cuts and approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline on the first day of his presidency.

The Republican candidate released the ad Friday, coupling it with a fundraising pitch.

In the commercial, Romney's first since becoming the presumptive GOP nominee, an announcer asks: "What would a Romney presidency be like?" "Day One: President Romney immediately approves the Keystone pipeline, creating thousands of jobs that Obama blocked," the announcer declares, referring to a pipeline Obama has delayed. Republicans insist his decision shows Obama's hostility toward the energy industry.

"President Romney introduces tax cuts and reforms that reward job creators, not punish them," the announcer says. Then, in an effort to ease conservative skepticism, the announcer says: "President Romney issues order to begin replacing Obamacare with common-sense health care reform." As governor of Massachusetts, Romney signed into law a health care overhaul that was a model for Obama's health care law.

The ad shows video and photos of Romney appearing with U.S. workers, underscoring the campaign's central pitch that Romney is the best candidate to improve the economy.

The ad ignores Congress' role in fulfilling these promises, especially on the health care law. A full repeal would require votes from Republican majorities in both the House and Senate or Democratic support for repeal.

Republicans control the House and have voted to repeal the law. But Democrats control the Senate, and the balance of power on Capitol Hill would have to shift to make Romney's pledge a reality.