Rep. Tom Udall (D) is up with his fourth television spot as he seeks to maintain his strong lead over Rep. Steve Pearce (R) in the race to replace outgoing Sen. Pete Domenici (R).

Udall currently has two television spots on the air.

Udall’s latest 30-second spot, airing statewide on broadcast and cable, highlights the Congressman’s combined efforts with Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and Domenici — both of whom remain popular — to keep open Cannon Air Force Base, located in his Northern New Mexico 3rd district.

Udall also discusses his effort to increase funding for the Los Alamos National Laboratory — considered a key component of the New Mexico economy.

But perhaps just as important as what Udall says in the ad is the imagery. In the spot, Udall is wearing jeans, a western-style belt and a casual button-down shirt while leaning against an SUV in the sun-drenched New Mexico desert as he makes his pitch.

“People in Washington think New Mexico is nothing but desert. They don’t think about our people and our jobs,” the five-term Congressman says as the ad opens.

Pearce campaign spokesman Brian Phillips took issue with the claims Udall makes in the ad, suggesting that the Democrat did not stand in the way of funding for Los Alamos, but did not go out of his way to ensure that funding, either.

“Tom Udall did not fight to prevent the budget cuts to [Los Alamos] last year, and he has voted against the interests of all our New Mexico bases,” Phillips said. “If Rep. Udall wants to show his support for [Los Alamos] he should make sure funding for the lab is restored this year instead of rolling over and allowing it to happen. We will be watching.”