Hotline On Call

Updated at 4:50 p.m.

GOP Rep. Jeff Flake's first general election ad in the Arizona Senate race goes directly after Democratic nominee Richard Carmona, tying him to President Obama and his health care reform bill. "Richard Carmona was recruited by Barack Obama," the narrator begins. "Carmona is for Obama's health care law."

The ad also cites Flake's support from both of Arizona's Republican senators, John McCain and Jon Kyl, and notes that he is against Obama's health care law and "supports a realistic plan to strengthen Medicare."

"Obama's man in Arizona, or Jeff Flake, Arizona's man in Washington? Some decisions are just easier than others," the narrator concludes.

"Dr. Carmona is a lifelong independent who served as Surgeon General of the United States under George W. Bush," said Carmona campaign spokesperson Andy Barr. "Touting his independence and background, Jon Kyl once tried to get Dr. Carmona to run for Congress. Dr. Carmona is nobody's rubber stamp."

One of Carmona's recent ads has also taken on the health care issue, emphasizing his independence on the issue: Carmona proclaims in the spot that "Republicans and Democrats both got it wrong."

Carmona has been a highly-touted Democratic recruit, but Flake looks well positioned with 7 weeks left to the November elections.