Paul, Perry and Gingrich hit Iowa airwaves with new ads [Video]

Ron Paul as agitator. Rick Perry as outsider. Newt Gingrich as uniter.

Those are the themes that hit Iowa airwaves Monday in a flurry of new campaign ads that highlight the disparate temperaments of the Republican presidential hopefuls.

“What’s up with these sorry politicians?” begins a new ad from the Paul campaign. “Lots of bark! But when it’s showtime? Whimpering like little Shih-Tzus.”

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The ad highlights the Texas congressman’s plan to do away with five federal departments – “Department of Education? Gone! Interior? Energy? HUD? Commerce? Gone!” – and touts his proposal to cut $1 trillion in federal spending in one year.

“Later, bureaucrats,” says a voice that sounds like it belongs in a monster truck commercial. “That’s how Ron Paul rolls.”

Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said the campaign “wanted something to cut through all the noise and show that Ron is the only candidate serious about spending cuts.” Meanwhile, a super PAC supporting Texas Gov. Rick Perry is up with a new ad in Iowa and South Carolina promoting Rick Perry’s “outsider” message.

“Washington elites are wrecking America,” a voice says. “…Stop Washington insiders. Rick Perry, a conservative for president.” And Newt Gingrich, the latest candidate to surge ahead in the polls, is out with his first ad in Iowa, a minute-long spot featuring a heartwarming score against a montage of landscape and Main Street imagery.

“Some people say the America we know and love is a thing of the past,” Gingrich says. “I don’t believe that.” kim.geiger@latimes.com