Mikie Sherrill ran her first TV ad this week. It’s a positive piece that stresses her credentials as a former Navy helicopter pilot, a one time federal prosecutor and a mother.

The helicopter connection is noteworthy. During the 2018 campaign, Sherrill was pictured in one of her ads piloting a helicopter as it hovered above the 11th District.

That actually prompted Jay Webber, her Republican opponent at the time, to crack that the last thing we need is “someone from Washington looking down at us.”  While that wasn’t a bad line, it didn’t do Webber much good.

Moving back to 2020,  beside the personal stuff, the ad makes two valid points about health care.

The congresswoman, who is being challenged by Republican Rosemary Becchi,  says she will continue to work to protect those with preexisting conditions and to lower drug prices.

Both issues are wrapped up in politics.

The ACA, or if you prefer, Obamacare, prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against those with preexisting conditions. Republicans in Congress repeatedly have tried to repeal the ACA and by extension, the protection for those with preexisting conditions.

Republicans say they want that protection to remain, but this can be a tough balancing act politically.

The other issue raised in the ad refers to a bill the House passed a few months ago to allow the government to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies regarding Medicare and Medicaid. Negotiating prices seems like what capitalism should be about.

Yet, many Republicans oppose the measure, saying it could threaten jobs and hurt drug company research. This issue already is dividing Democrat Tom Malinowski and Republican challenger Tom Kean Jr. in CD-7.

Polls suggest that health care is a big issue and one that breaks in the Democrats’ favor, so it’s no mystery why Sherrill’s ad is stressing what it does,

Becchi also has had some TV ads, one of which stresses her work in writing a tax savings plan known as 529 that helps families save for their child’s college education.

More recently, the GOP candidate put up a Facebook video seemingly designed to let viewers get to know her better.

It begins with Becchi sitting on a bench in downtown Madison drinking a cup of coffee. She then strolls along the sidewalk as an unseen narrator asks her multiple questions about her everyday interests and activities.

We learn that the candidate rises at 5 a.m. and that her favorite color is red. Also, she wore a white dress to her prom and that she likes wearing spiked heels.

If you care for more, Becchi says her favorite spot down the shore is Point Pleasant and that her dream vacation spot is Italy. She prefers Bon Jovi to Springsteen.

Asked if she likes the Jets or the Giants, she replied “Eagles.”

For someone running in North Jersey, that was at least courageous.