Obama backs Connecticut Senate candidate Murphy in new TV ad

President Obama is appearing in a new TV ad, urging Connecticut voters to support Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy for the U.S. Senate.

The commercial is scheduled to begin airing Saturday. The Associated Press first obtained a copy on Friday.

A national Democratic Party official confirmed it's the first ad where Obama has made a direct appeal on behalf of a Democratic Senate candidate.

Obama looks directly into the camera and says he knows Murphy and credits him with having "a real record of job creation" and "a jobs plan that puts the middle class first." Murphy's Republican opponent, Linda McMahon, has accused Murphy of not having a jobs plan.

Obama credited Murphy with supporting women's health issues and said he needs him "as a partner" in the Senate.