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The race between Barack Obama and John McCain is neck-and-neck in the bellwether state of Ohio, according to the latest polls. But Obama is getting a boost in the state among a traditional Republican voting bloc -- evangelical Christians -- from the Matthew 25 Network, a group that claims to be the first Christian PAC of its kind.

Today, Matthew 25 is launching the first of a planned series of ads supporting Obama on Christian radio stations throughout the Buckeye State. The new spot (subscription) features former Rep. Tony Hall of Dayton, a self-described pro-life Democrat discussing how his Christian faith is leading him to vote for Obama.

Hall describes the hardships plaguing many Ohio families and claims that "we need a president who sees those who are hurting and cares for the least of these." He highlights the fact that "as a child, Barack knew hard times, too," and he stresses Obama's own faith: "As a Christian, Barack believes that God calls us to care for those who are in need. He has spent his life doing just that."

Hall told reporters today that what most impressed him about Obama was his decision to forgo a high-paying job when he graduated from college and move to Chicago to help neighborhoods struggling from plant closings. "I think he’ll be tremendous for the poor people in this country," Hall said.

Mara Vanderslice, the group's executive director, emphasized the timeliness of this ad, as it asks Christian voters to consider the larger implications of the recent economic crisis. Bart Campolo, a minister involved with Matthew 25, said that, as the government undertakes the biggest restructuring of the economic sector in nearly a decade, the American people should make sure that we have someone in the White House "who will restructure the country in a way that works for everyone," not just Wall Street.