Update: McCain, GOP Unhappy With N.C. GOP AD

Sen. John McCain sent this letter to the chairman of the North Carolina GOP this a.m.:

Dear Chairman Daves,

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.

John McCain

Danny Diaz, the RNC's communications director, in a statement:

“Senator McCain has been very clear that he expects to run a respectful campaign based on the critical issues confronting the nation. 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"

There's a sense among some GOP activists that the McCain campaign depresses the base by refusing to engage in the base-tending tactics that these ads exemplify. Also: how many times does McCain have to remind his party that he doesn't like these types of ads and doesn't want them to run? How many GOP state parties will rebel against their nominee's discomfort with ads like these? (Two, so far: Tennessee and North Carolina.)