Terry McAuliffe introduces himself to Virginia voters with first campaign ad

Democrat Terry McAuliffe will run the first television ad of his gubernatorial campaign on Thursday, just days after Republican Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli began airing a commercial of his own.

While the air wars in the Virginia governor’s race are expected to get expensive and nasty as the campaign wears on, they’re starting with a more gentle touch. Cuccinelli’s 30-second spot, which began running statewide Monday, is a positive, get-to-know-me spot featuring his wife, Teiro. McAuliffe’s ad is also an introduction to voters, many of whom don’t know the former Democratic National Committee chairman.