(NY-24) Democrat, Republican Decry GOP TV Ad (AP)

Democrat, Republican Decry GOP TV Ad

Saturday, October 21, 2006

(10-21) 17:44 PDT Syracuse, N.Y. (AP) --

Both major-party candidates for a congressional seat are decrying an ad
sponsored by a national Republican committee that accuses the Democrat
of billing taxpayers for a call to a phone-sex line.

The ad, which began airing Friday, shows Michael Arcuri leering at the
silhouette of a dancing woman who says, "Hi, sexy. You've reached the live,
one-on-one fantasy line."

Arcuri's campaign said an associate mistakenly dialed an 800-number sex
line two years ago from Arcuri's New York City hotel room, and released
records supporting the claim. The number shares the same last seven digits
with the number for the state Department of Criminal Justice Services,
which was dialed the minute after the first call was made.

-snip-

At least seven television stations in Syracuse, Utica and Binghamton refused
to run the ad, Arcuri said.

The ad's sponsor, the National Republican Congressional Committee, stood by
the 30-second message. Spokesman Ed Patru insisted it was "totally true" and
said Meier was not consulted.

-snip-