WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is touting his proposal to expand the size and funding of the U.S. military in new ad airing in Iowa and New Hampshire.

The thirty-second ad, "Now is the Time," begins airing in the two politically-influential states Wednesday. It will also air on national cable networks, according to Romney spokesman Kevin Madden.

"If we lock our arms together, we can forge the political will to rebuild our military might," Romney says in the ad that aims to increase the presidential hopeful's name recognition. "Now is the time for us to lead a great coalition of strength."

Romney isn't the only presidential candidate to hit the airwaves Wednesday. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards has purchased air time in Iowa to run an ad -- a version of which was first launched last week in the Washington, DC market -- that calls on members of Congress not to back down from calling for a withdrawal deadline from Iraq.