Democratic super PAC ad tries to undercut Romney

WASHINGTON — A Democratic super PAC supporting President Barack Obama is releasing a new TV ad that aims to undermine Republican Mitt Romney's appeal to middle-class workers as Republicans are gathering for their convention in Tampa, Florida.

The ad by Priorities U.S.A Action features a Massachusetts small business owner who voted for Romney in 2002 but now says she feels "duped" by the former Massachusetts governor. The ad is airing in Florida during the GOP convention and criticizes the level of job growth in Massachusetts under Romney's watch.

Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg called the ad a distraction from Obama's record. She said the Republican campaign was "happy to compare the 4.7 percent unemployment rate Mitt Romney achieved with President Obama's record of 42 straight months of unemployment above 8 percent any day."

The super PAC says the ad is part of a new $30 million project that will focus on how the Republican ticket's proposals would affect the middle class. It will air in Florida, Colorado, Ohio and Virginia.