Heller unveils first ad of Senate campaign

Sen. Dean Heller today unveiled the first television ad of his re-election bid, a folksy commercial that advertises his support for a populist initiative he's been pushing in Washington.

Heller's "no budget, no pay" legislation has gotten mixed reviews from experts but has tested well as an easily understandable concept:  If lawmakers cannot pass a federal budget and spending bills on time, they would not collect their paychecks.

The ad also makes clear that Heller, a Republican who has been a federal lawmaker since 2007,  is seeking to portray himself as an outsider in the election, referring to Congress in the third person as "they."

Wearing khakis and an open-collar blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a jaunty Heller holds a rolled up newspaper while pointing out he was a delivery boy as a youngster, and "if I didn't deliver I didn't get paid."

"But Congress hasn't passed budget in over three years.  They do a lot of talking but they haven't done their job in over three years," Heller says.

Under his "no budget, no pay" bill,  "If Congress can't find the time to do its job and pass a budget, they don't get paid."

The commercial will begin running on Sunday in a statewide ad buy that will get it airtime in Las Vegas, Reno and Elko,  Heller's campaign said.

Heller also uses the ad in his latest fundraising appeal for donors to tweet or share the video, and make a contribution in the process.