Sen. Lamar Alexander

NASHVILLE - Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander's campaign today released a television ad aimed at bolstering the two-term lawmaker's conservative credentials as an opponent of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

The 60-second ad, Alexander's second television spot, begins running statewide today, according to the campaign, which did not specify how large a media buy they've made.

"Lamar Alexander led the conservative fight against Obamacare," the ad says. "Voted 23 times against it. Stood up to the president at the White House health care summit."

Much of the ad features C-SPAN video of an exchange between Alexander and Obama over the senator's assertion that health insurance premiums would go up under the law.

The ad takes the same line as a recent Alexander radio ad. It's going up as state Rep. Joe Carr, a Lascassas Republican running against the senator, slams Alexander for not joining efforts to defund Obamacare.

Carr says Alexander's record is "more liberal" than that of U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper.

Meanwhile, Alexander today seized on news the Obama administration has delayed until mid-September plans to sign final agreements with insurance plans that are to be sold to Americans through online marketplaces known as exchanges beginning Oct. 1.

"I've been warning that a train wreck is coming with this law, but the truth is that no train wreck has ever had this many warning signs," Alexander said in a statement. "The avalanche of last-minute delays should make every American anxious about the quality of the health care they'll be able to purchase in October."