Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) criticizes the White House over its rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline route in his first statewide radio ad, launched yesterday, as he bids for the GOP Senate nomination to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson (D).

The 1-minute radio ad urges listeners to sign a petition on Mack's website supporting the proposed 1,700-mile pipeline that would carry Canadian oil sands crude from Alberta to the Gulf Coast.

"Rising gas prices hurt families and kill jobs. That's a fact," an announcer states in the ad. "Still, the Lockstep Liberals, Barack Obama and Bill Nelson, refuse to build the Keystone pipeline. That pipeline would bring Canadian oil to America. It's energy we desperately need. The pipeline would create thousands of jobs and make America less dependent on Middle Eastern oil."

The ad continues: "But President Obama and Senator Nelson are afraid of the political clout of a few left-wing environmental extremists. Let's stop the extremists by signing Connie Mack's petition to force Washington to build the Keystone pipeline."

Mack made similar comments in a letter to President Obama earlier this month, when the commander in chief visited Tampa.

Nelson, who is seeking a third term, leads his potential GOP challengers in fundraising, with $9.5 million on hand at the end of March.

A survey released last week by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling likewise showed Nelson with a substantial lead over both Mack and former appointed Sen. George LeMieux (R).

Nelson led Mack 47 percent to 37 percent, and he topped LeMieux 48 percent to 34 percent. The poll of 700 registered voters, taken April 12 to 15, had a 3.7-point margin of error.

Mack reported $1.4 million on hand at the end of March, only slightly more than LeMieux, despite the fact that the latter has struggled with fundraising.