Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian launched his first TV ad today, a few days before 1st district special election ballots land in voters’ mailboxes.

Avakian is one of three leading Democrats in the Nov. 8 primary, the winner of which is likely to take on 2010 Republican nominee Rob Cornilles in the race to replace former Rep. David Wu (D).

The ad, which is running for a week on broadcast and cable TV, is a positive spot that highlights Avakian’s roots in the district and his willingness to do “whatever it takes.”

“I’m ticked off about what’s going on,” Avakian says in the ad. “These tea party Republicans trying to end Medicare and roll back the clock on women? It’s crazy. And you see Congress doing nothing while we struggle.”

Avakian said he’d “fight for a jobs plan” and an “end to Wall Street bailouts.”

Given the past Democratic performance of this Portland-area district, which stretches west from the city to the Pacific coast, the winner of the Democratic primary will be favored in the Jan. 31 special election.

Avakian raised $183,000 in the third quarter and ended September with $109,000 in the bank. As for his primary opponents, state Sen. Suzanne Bonamici raised $600,000 in the quarter, a figure that included a $200,000 personal loan. She had $450,000 in cash on hand at the end of last month. State Rep. Brad Witt raised $64,000 and ended the quarter with $23,000 on hand.

Watch the ad: