WASHINGTON — Clint Eastwood is starring in a new ad to support Republican Mitt Romney’s election to the White House.

The “Dirty Harry” actor criticizes President Barack Obama’s economic record over video of a shuttered factory and an unemployment line. Eastwood says a second term would be a, quote, “rerun of the first and our country just couldn’t survive that.”

The ad closes with a close-up of the Academy Award winner facing the camera and arguing that the country needs Romney to turn things around.

The independent Republican group American Crossroads unveiled the ad Wednesday. It is part of a $12.6 million, three-ad buy in seven swing states – Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia.

Eastwood spoke at the Republican National Convention, berating an empty chair meant to represent Obama.