Obama campaign targets Romney ties to oil

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's campaign is launching a new television ad defending the president's energy policies and seeking to tie Republican Mitt Romney to the oil industry.

Obama's second ad of the presidential campaign followed a similar one by Democratic group Priorities USA Action that argues the oil industry is trying to help Romney win the White House to protect its own profits and tax breaks.

Obama's new ad is airing in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia.

It aims to counter a $3.6 million ad campaign launched by American Energy Alliance blaming Obama for rising gas prices and his decision to delay the Keystone XL pipeline project.

Romney's campaign has said Obama's allies are trying to deflect blame and cover up for the president's failure to control gas prices.