Freedom’s Watch, a conservative advocacy 501(c)(4) organization, has hit Colorado’s airwaves with a television spot critical of Democratic Senate nominee Rep. Mark Udall.

The 30-second spot uses humor to accuse Udall of supporting federal funding for a “Department of Peace” at the expense of funding for the troops. Freedom’s Watch characterized the ad buy as being in the “high six figures.”

The ad went up Wednesday, came down today in observance of the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and then will go back up Friday for one week. Udall and former Rep. Bob Schaffer (R) are battling for the right to succeed Sen. Wayne Allard (R), who is retiring.

“Welcome to the Department of Peace,” an actor dressed as a 1960s-era protester says as the ad opens, as he points to a Volkswagen Bus from the same time period.

“Sure, it looks like a van, but with Congressman Mark Udall’s help, it really could happen. Udall wanted to spend billions on a Department of Peace and a Peace Academy.”

The spot is scheduled to run on broadcast and cable television in the Denver, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction media markets.

Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, panned the Freedom’s Watch ad as a smoke screen for Schaffer’s failed candidacy. Most polls have shown Udall with a solid lead, although a GOP poll released this week showed the contest statistically tied.

“Bob Schaffer’s special interest cronies have run millions of dollars in attack ads against Mark Udall, but they haven’t moved this race at all because Coloradans just don’t believe Big Oil Bob’s lies,” Miller said in an e-mail. “Special interest groups spent $5 million attacking Udall in August alone with no effect, and this new ad is a sign of real desperation.”