Television advertising has started in what is poised to be an expensive Indiana secretary of state campaign.

Democrat Beau Bayh’s campaign on Tuesday released what is the race’s first broadcast ad 12 weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 election. 

The 30-second advertisement opens with Bayh target shooting with a rifle while he says he trained as a Marine Corps marksman.

Over images of Bayh in Marines camouflage, he says he’ll work to clean up corruption in the secretary of state’s office and “expose every wasted dollar and no-bid contract.”

The Bayh campaign said it was making “an initial six-figure buy on TV and digital” but did not give any specifics.

Federal Communications Commission filings on Tuesday showed television ad time purchases by the campaign in the Indianapolis and South Bend markets.

Engling campaign says it returned $60K donation from dark money group

Bayh, the son of former Gov. Evan Bayh, ended June with about $2.3 million in his campaign fund, making him the best-financed Democratic candidate in several years as he tries to become the first Democrat to win a statewide office since 2012.

Republican candidate Max Engling had a late start in fundraising as he launched his successful GOP nomination challenge against current Secretary of State Diego Morales in May. 

Engling’s campaign had about $150,000 as of June 30, according to Election Division reports, but significant spending by outside Republican groups is expected on his behalf.

The Engling campaign did not answer a question Tuesday about its advertising plan but knocked Bayh’s ad, saying he “still thinks he’s running against Diego Morales.”

“Democrats and their socialist leadership are so radical that Beau Bayh doesn’t even acknowledge his own party in his campaign ad,” Engling’s campaign said. “Their campaign is behind, which is why they’re getting ads up early.”

Former Republican Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is running as the Lincoln Party candidate and Libertarian Lauri Shillings will also be on the ballot.

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