McCain: State GOP ad 'offensive'

The state Republican Party says it will air an ad linking two Democratic candidates for governor to Barack Obama's controversial former minister, despite objections from Sen. John McCain.

The ad shows video of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and then slams Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and state Treasurer Richard Moore.

"Now, Bev Perdue and Richard Moore endorse Barack Obama," the ad states. "They should know better. He's just too extreme for North Carolina."

McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee for president, sent N.C. GOP Chairwoman Linda Daves an e-mail today about what he called an "offensive advertisement."

"The television advertisement you are planning to air degrades our civics and distracts us from the very real differences we have with the Democrats," he wrote. "In the strongest terms, I implore you to not run this advertisement."

The Republican National Committee also called on North Carolina GOP officials to pull the ad.

"Senator McCain has been very clear that he expects to run a respectful campaign based on the critical issues confronting the nation," Danny Diaz, an RNC spokesman, said in an e-mail.

"The RNC has been in contact with the NC GOP and communicated that we do not believe the ad is appropriate or helpful and have asked that they refrain from running it."

The state Republican Party, however, would not relent.

"We think this is a legitimate question to ask, and we don't think we're the only ones asking it," said Brent Woodcox, communications director for the state Republican Party. "We feel this is a North Carolina issue."

Woodcox said the buy is still being finalized, but it is set to start airing statewide Monday during 6 p.m. newscasts.

It is believed to be the first time nationwide that Republicans have used Wright's comments in a TV advertisement since the comments first drew scrutiny last month. The party has not released details on how much money it plans to spend on airing the ad.

The Moore and Perdue campaigns did not immediately have a comment on the ad, nor did the Obama campaign.