THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610190282
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Robert Little and David Poole
LENGTH: 44 lines
John Warner isn't alone among Virginia Republicans having problems with their political TV ads this year.
The Republican Party of Virginia previewed a new commercial for the press Thursday afternoon, an ad hammering Bill Clinton for allegedly misleading the public.
It shows Clinton saying he will not raise taxes, will end big government and that he maintains high ethical standards. Then, with ``The Truth:'' written in red in the corner of the screen, the announcer talks about tax hikes, health care proposals and administrative problems to draw the president's honesty into question.
``Does the truth matter?'' it ends. ``Does it matter to you?''
Apparently, the whole thing didn't matter. After unveiling the commercial, Virginia GOP director Chris LaCivita called reporters to say it won't be shown in Virginia.
``They sent us the wrong ad,'' he said. The advertising campaign in Virginia will be financed by Bob Dole's national campaign. What advertisement will be shown in Virginia?
``We don't know,'' LaCivita said. ``I'll let you know.''
Virginia Democrats say the rumor is untrue: President Clinton will not cross the Potomac on Saturday for the party's annual King-Kennedy Dinner in Arlington.
Mark Warner joked the event would have given Clinton a chance to ``re-enact'' the doctored photograph that appeared in a John Warner TV ad last week.
The real photo was taken two years ago at the dinner, as Clinton presided over a peacemaking handshake between two Democratic rivals: former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder and U.S. Sen. Charles Robb.
A John Warner media consultant used a computer to paste Mark Warner's head on Robb's shoulders.
Mark Warner said he would have welcomed a Clinton visit, which he said would have ``given John an actual photo that could appear in his next smear ad.''
KEYWORDS: PRESIDENTIAL RACE CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN by CNB