(CNN) – With Pennsylvania's developing status as a must-win battleground for John McCain, the state GOP launched a last-minute television ad here highlighting Barack Obama's relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

"If you think you could ever vote for Barack Obama, consider this: Obama chose as his spiritual leader this man," the ad's narrator says, before clips of Wright's controversial statements are shown.

"Does that sound like someone who should be president?" the ad continues.

The party did not release the extent of the ad buy, but defended the decision to air it.

"We feel that it is necessary that the American people remember that Obama sat in a church and listened to this man preach hate for many, many years," said a statement posted on the state party's Web site. "What does that say about his judgment? Do we want the next President of the United States to have spent years listening to hateful rhetoric without having the good judgment to walk out?"

McCain has said he does not believe Obama's relationship with Wright should be an issue in the campaign — to the ire of some Republicans, who feel it raises questions about the Illinois senator's judgment.

In an interview last month, Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin seemed to suggest Wright was a fair issue to raise, but that the final decision was McCain's.

"[Obama] sat in the pews for 20 years, and heard Reverend Wright say some things that most people would find a bit concerning. But again that is John McCain's call," said Palin.