The ad above was created by the NCGOP and it shows the infamous Jeremiah Wright speech where he says, "God Damn America", while explaining Barack Obama's association with Wright. This ad is to show NC voters that Obama is "too extreme" for them.
John McCain has officially asked the NCGOP to not run the ad and to take it down, a request they are
not prepared to grant.
The North Carolina GOP has the ad up at their
website.
You will not see the typical, "I am John McCain and I approved this ad", and his letter to the NCGOP leaders, via NYT'S,
The Caucus, expresses why.
From the beginning of this election, I have been committed to running a respectful campaign based upon an honest debate about the great issues confronting America today. I expect all state parties to do so as well. The television advertisement you are planning to air degrades our civics and distracts us from the very real differences we have with the Democrats. In the strongest terms, I implore you to not run this advertisement.
This ad does not live up to the very high standards we should hold ourselves to in this campaign. We need to run a campaign that is worthy of the people we seek to serve. There is no doubt that we will draw sharp contrasts with the Democrats on fundamental issues critical to the future course of our country. But we need not engage in political tactics that only seek to divide the American people.
Once again, it is imperative that you withdraw this offensive advertisement.
McCain told reporters on his campaign bus in Kentucky that,
"We asked them not to run it. I'm sending them an e-mail as we speak asking them to take it down", he continues,
"I don't know why they do it. Obviously, I don't control them, but I'm making it very clear, as I have a couple of times in the past, that there's no place for that kind of campaigning, and the American people don't want it."
He also asserts he hasn't seen it and hopes he will not see it.
North Carolina GOP spokesman Brent Woodcox said the ad will begin running statewide on Monday, a week before the state's crucial May 6 primary.
To that end, Woodcox says,
"We have a great relation with the RNC and we fully support John McCain for president. But this is an ad about two North Carolina candidates for governor. The ad is going to run."
