The Republican National Committee is airing a television ad that says President Barack Obama tried and failed to fix the economy, and that it's OK to make a change.

The ad is critical of Obama, but in milder terms than many other commercials. Instead, it appears designed to persuade voters to back a new president even though Obama's favorability ratings remain high. It doesn't mention Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

The ad says Obama took office with big plans to repair the economy, but the country now has an economic crisis with no end in sight. It concludes: "He tried. You tried. It's OK to make a change."

The commercial is airing in Ohio, Virginia, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Colorado and Iowa at a cost of about $5 million.