Although he faces no competition in the June 3 Democratic primary and the general election is more than 10 months away, Charlie Brown this week released his first radio ad of the 2008 campaign.

The 30-second spot features Iraq War veteran Cody Conway and is set to air for the next month on radio stations across the Republican-leaning 4th district, which is situated in the suburbs and foothills just east of Sacramento.

Brown is set to face either incumbent Rep. John Doolittle (R) or one of Doolittle’s GOP challengers next November. Despite the strong Republican bent of the 4th district, Brown held Doolittle below 50 percent of the vote last year, nearly beating him.

“My name is Cody Conway. In 2003, I was injured in Iraq,” Brown’s ad opens. “When I came back, I was alone more than anything. People noticed how much I had changed.

“Charlie Brown understood where I was coming from and he was actually willing to listen,” Conway continues in the spot. “Because he’s been in combat. Because he’s fought for our country, there’s nobody better.”

— David M. Drucker