AdWatch: Dole Ad in NC Senate Race Leads to Hagan Lawsuit

A political advertisement has prompted one candidate in North Carolina's U.S. Senate race to sue the other.

Polls say Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole has an uphill fight against Democrat Kay Hagan, a state senator from Greensboro.

News Channel 7 AdWatch is examining the Dole campaign ad that went statewide this week. It's titled "Promises."

This is the ad's script (it can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuS342L22QI):

"I'm Elizabeth Dole, and I approved this message. Announcer: A leader of the Godless Americans PAC recently held a secret fundraiser in Kay Hagan's honor. 'There is no God to rely on. 'There was no Jesus.' 'I take it Under God on the Pledge of Allegiance, you're down with that? We're down with that. In God We Trust, you gonna whip that off the money? Yeah, we would. Announcer: Godless Americans and Kay Hagan. She hid from cameras. Took Godless money. What did Hagan promise in return? Voice: There is no God."

News Channel 7's political experts examined the Dole ad.

Trevor Rubenzer of USC Upstate: "... the ad... uses a voice that sounds like Hagan to say, 'There is no God.' It is pretty clear that this is not what Hagan believes. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has never espoused atheistic views. While the Godless Americans PAC has a core belief that most Americans don't subscribe to, it is part of the broader secular progressive movement in the United States. Secular progressives tend to argue that the line between church and state should be very visible and impermeable. Secular progressives do tend to support Democratic candidates, which is more than likely the reason for the fundraiser.

"Overall, the ad will likely play well to the conservative base, as well as swing voters who believe that the line between religious issues and government has never been hard and fast. The ad is risky (for Dole) in that some voters are likely to view it as an act of desperation."

Rob Jeffrey of Wofford College also critiqued the ad: "First, it shows that Dole is very worried about losing her seat - a tough and risky ad. Second, it does illustrate how odd it is for a group promoting atheism to be making political contributions - showing the religious-secular split in the culture. Third, it does raise the question of what the group expects in return, which is a legitimate question. If what atheists want is not connected to what a politician can do, why give a contribution. No doubt, Dole will be accused of being another Jesse Helms - but remember he never lost."

Colleen Flanagan, a spokesperson for the Hagan campaign, tells News Channel 7, "The Godless Americans PAC did not host this fundraiser for Kay. The Godless Americans PAC has never given Kay money. The Godless Americans PAC has never endorsed Kay’s candidacy."

"She attended a fundraiser, hosted by Woody Kaplan, and nearly 40 other people, including a sitting U.S. Senator, John Kerry. This was NOT a fundraiser sponsored by Godless Americans PAC. That is completely and entirely untrue. Kaplan has given to Biden, Obama, Clinton, Harkin, McCaskill, Webb, Warner, numerous others," according to Flanagan.

The website of the Secular Coalition for America says this of Kaplan: "Woody Kaplan founded the Civil Liberties List (a political action committee) and is a full-time political and civil liberties activist. He is president of the First Amendment Foundation and serves on the advisory boards of the Secular Student Alliance, the Godless Americans Political Action Committee and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

Fox News quotes the Dole campaign as saying the ad is "100 percent accurate." The campaign is refusing to take the ad off the air.

Hagan calls the ad an attack on her Christian faith. She's an elder and Sunday school teacher at First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro.

Today (10/30/08) Hagan filed a defamation lawsuit against Dole and her campaign.

Polls show Hagan leading Dole by several points in the senate race.

Vote in Amy Wood's poll -- will this help or hurt Dole's campaign? And watch both Dole's Ad, and Hagan's response spot.