Tom Hanks and the Hollywood touch draw attention to new Obama campaign video

The 17-minute documentary looks at the administration's record and helps set the tone for the reelection campaign.

The New York Times: Obama Campaign Video Serves Up A Heroic Vision Of Catastrophe Averted
It's not exactly "Morning Again in America." If anything, a new straight-to-the-Internet campaign video of President Obama looks more like darkness at noon. … It's not as easy to make the case for bailouts and health care reform, but the film does it with images of auto workers back on the job and young people and the elderly beaming over their medical insurance coverage. Yet for all the plaudits for the president's character, the ending is more cautionary than triumphant. (The narrator Tom) Hanks reminds viewers to remember "how far we've come" and asks them to "look forward to the work still to be done" (Stanley, 3/15).

The Associated Press: Obama Campaign Releases Documentary On First Term
Helped by Hollywood, President Barack Obama's campaign is releasing a 17-minute documentary that portrays the president as a resolute figure who confronted a massive economic downturn and the aftermath of the nation's war on terrorism with determination and a series of tough decisions. The documentary, commissioned by the Obama campaign, provides a window into how his team is trying to sell the president's re-election bid: As a man of principle who faced daunting challenges from the moment he won election but persevered to rescue the U.S. auto industry, begin rebuilding the economy, pass health care reform and authorize the raid that killed Osama bin Laden (Thomas, 3/15).

Meanwhile, a conservative political group unveils its political ad, featuring Pat Boone.

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Advocacy Group Targets Democratic Senators With Ad Featuring Pat Boone 
The 60 Plus Association, a conservative-leaning advocacy group focused on issues for seniors, began running new television spots this week targeting five incumbent Democratic senators for their support of the Medicare provisions in the 2010 health law. … Each version of the ad, which features 77-year-old crooner Pat Boone, asks seniors to call one of five senators …  to express opposition to health law provisions like the Independent Payment Advisory Board.  All five senators are up for re-election this fall" (Eisenhower, 3/15).