by Nick Storm@NickStorm_cn2 –

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul’s campaign released its first ad of the general election cycle with a positive spot focusing on the Bowling Green eye surgeon’s pro bono surgery’s performed in Kentucky and around the world.

The advertisement titled “caring for Kentucky” is running as part of a “significant buy” according to the campaign.

An announcer in the spot says, Paul’s “work as a surgeon says a lot about who he is.”

“For over 20 years, Rand Paul has performed free eye surgery for the poor in Kentucky and around the world,” the announcer continues in the ad.

The ad features Rita McKellips, a Crittenden County woman, who Paul’s campaign says was legally blind until the Bowling Green Republican performed free cataract surgery on her this past July in Paducah, Kentucky.

Paul has made national headlines for his travel abroad on medical missions to Guatemala and Haiti to perform charitable surgery.

Paul faces Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jim Gray of Lexington in the Nov. 8 election.