ATLANTA - Democrat Roy Barnes launched a pre-emptive strike in Georgia's race for governor Tuesday, unleashing his first campaign ad of the general election even as voters were selecting the Republican who will face him in November.

The ad - a broadside against the state's ruling GOP - was to begin airing Tuesday around the state. It sketches out what is sure to become a familiar line of attack as the general election gets under way: Georgia is falling behind.

Without ever mentioning the word Republican, the TV spot asks if Georgians want to continue with "the same team that gave us ethics violations, teacher furloughs, tax breaks to special interests, homes foreclosed and misplaced priorities."

It casts the coming general election as a choice not between political parties, but between "competent experience or more of the same."

"Roy Barnes. No on the job training necessary," the spot concludes.

Barnes, Georgia's former governor, is running to win his old job back. He was defeated in 2002 by Republican Sonny Perdue.

The ad will air in Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Savannah and Albany.

Voters in Tuesday's runoff were choosing between former Secretary of State Karen Handel and former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal as the GOP nominee for governor.

Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said "all the advertising magic of Madison Avenue couldn't get Georgians to swallow the snake oil Democrats are selling this year."

"Georgia is a red state, conservatives are fired up and voters haven't forgotten why they fired Roy Barnes in the first place," Robinson said.

Dan McLagan, a spokesman for Handel, said Barnes "is going to be on the attack from now to November to distract Georgians from his horrible record as governor."

"This is exactly why we can't send an ethically challenged candidate like Congressman Deal up against him - Barnes and his millions would destroy Nathan," he said.

Barnes, who locked up his own party's nomination in the state's July 20 primary, has been biding his time while his would-be Republican rivals have brawled during the three-week runoff.

Handel has been assailing Deal's ethics. Deal has attacked Handel as too liberal on issues like abortion and gay rights. Both have rolled out high-profile endorsements: Handel from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Deal ex-presidential contender Mike Huckabee.

Barnes' ad suggests it doesn't matter who becomes the nominee: both are members of a party that is missing the point.

"Unlike the other team who has used out-of-state endorsements and sideline issues to divide voters, Roy is an experienced leader who is focused on making Georgia work again by addressing the serious issues facing all Georgians including jobs, education and transportation," the Democrat's campaign manager Chris Carpenter said.