Here’s something you don’t see every day: an independent expenditure for a positive commercial. Yesterday the National Republican Congressional Committee started running a tv ad in Iowa’s third district featuring retiring Representative Tom Latham and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley endorsing David Young.

I can’t remember the last time I saw a commercial from the NRCC or its counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, that didn’t attempt to tear down the other candidate. Unfortunately for Democrats, this spot is probably way more effective than the NRCC’s previous effort to undermine Staci Appel. Latham won the newly configured IA-03 by a comfortable margin in 2012, carrying every county but Polk, and losing Polk by a much smaller margin than Mitt Romney did. Grassley has carried all of the sixteen counties in IA-03 in every U.S. Senate election that I can remember.

After the jump I’ve posted the video and annotated transcript of the new commercial. Any comments about the IA-03 race are welcome in this thread.

NRCC ad “Endorse,” launched September 16:

Transcript:

Representative Tom Latham speaks to the camera: It’s been an honor to represent Iowa, and I’m proud to endorse David Young as our next Congressman.

Senator Chuck Grassley speaks to camera: I’ve worked with David for 7 years, and I can tell you, he’ll be a great Representative for Iowa.

Latham’s voice: David will fight for lower taxes, less spending, and he’ll work to cut the debt. [viewer sees photo of Young talking to people, words Lower Taxes on screen; then another photo of Young smiling, words Cut the Debt on screen]

Latham speaks to camera again: America faces serious challenges, and we need people like David in Congress.

Grassley: Join Tom and me, and let’s send David Young to Congress.

Male voice-over: The National Republican Congressional Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising. [viewer sees still photo of Young and Grassley together; Young has his arm around Grassley’s shoulder, and both men are smiling. ELECT DAVID YOUNG is on screen]