Updated

A Republican-leaning independent group is out with a new TV ad chiding President Barack Obama for criticizing Mitt Romney's business record.

American Crossroads, a super PAC tied to GOP strategist Karl Rove, announced Thursday that it is spending $9.3 million to air the ad in nine general election battleground states.

The ad says Obama's attacks on Romney's former private equity firm Bain Capital are misleading and an effort to distract voters from the weak economy and high unemployment.

American Crossroads is affiliated with Crossroads GPS, which has spent at least $18 million in presidential battleground states so far.

The ad will air beginning Friday in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia.