McDonnell’s TV ad to run 10 days

Republican Bob McDonnell yesterday became the first candidate for governor to go on television in the general election campaign.

McDonnell's 30-second ad, which pushes job creation and entrepreneurship, will run for 10 days on broadcast and cable TV markets, excluding the expensive Washington market.

McDonnell is spending about $300,000 on the ad run, according to The Associated Press.

McDonnell faces state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, who won his party's nomination in a three-way primary June 9.

In tandem with the new ad, McDonnell appeared in a children's bookstore in Fredericksburg yesterday and touted proposals that he said would help small-business owners.

Among the proposals, McDonnell said he would commit state government to approve most routine business applications within 48 hours.

He said he would change the "Virginia Business One Stop" Web site into a "first and only stop" to help businesses get "up and running with minimal delay."

He said he would create an up-to-date guide for business creation and expansion, "fast track" the permitting process for small businesses and make it easier for businesses in good standing that are expanding within the state or moving into Virginia to operate under temporary licenses while they await approval.

-- Andrew Cain