People are trashing a Democratic hopeful's 'cringe-worthy' campaign ad that parodies 'Top Gun'

Democratic congressional hopeful Daniel Helmer has garnered national attention in a crowded race in which candidates often vie for any scrap of attention to break out of the pack.

Unfortunately, it may not be the kind of attention he wanted.

On Monday, the Iraq War veteran and Rhodes Scholar released a new digital ad parodying the movie "Top Gun." Helmer sings a version of 1960s pop standard "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" that swapped out melancholic lyrics with bits about incumbent Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock's opposition to the Affordable Care Act.

Internet users quickly pounced on the ad, which many dubbed cheesy and a little pitch-y:

Helmer announced his candidacy in April, citing President Donald Trump's election as a motivating factor.

Though Comstock's district was one of the most prominent swing districts in the country, and is a top Democratic target, the Republican congresswoman has proved to be a resilient candidate. Though voters in the district chose Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton over Trump, Comstock won the race with a wider margin of victory than expected. 

Watch the ad: