Patrick's first re-election ad targets health care

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Governor Deval Patrick has released the first ad of his re-election campaign, a Web-only spot highlighting his proposal to check health insurance rate increases.

The Democrat never appears in the spot released Tuesday, which features several small business owners saying they're struggling to cope with rising premiums.

The ad promotes an issue targeted at the national level by President Barack Obama, and also jabs at Republican rival Charles Baker, the former president of a major health insurer.

Patrick was also testifying Tuesday in favor of a bill that would control cost increases made by health care providers.

Treasurer Timothy Cahill -- a former Democrat running for governor as an independent -- has his own news conference to rebut Patrick's testimony.