Gov. Jim Doyle released a television advertisement Wednesday attacking his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, for refusal to accept the recent state Election Board decision ordering him to return federally raised money from his campaign. Instead of complying with the board's decision, Green plans to take the issue to court.
The ad, compiled of newscasts reporting Green's transfer of federal money to his state spending account, ends with the assault, ""Maybe that's how Washington works, but not Wisconsin.""
Jay Heck executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin, a non-partisan government reform group, said negative campaigning is a result of the enormous sum of money both candidates have raised in their campaign.
""Political consultants spend a lot of that money on negative ads because it seems to be effective in driving up negative poll numbers on opponents,"" Heck said.
Green's campaign manager, Mark Graul, responded to the ad in a statement accusing Doyle of trying to escape the attention of his own pending investigation.
""Gov. Doyle is simply trying to divert attention from the ongoing federal investigation into his office for trading campaign donations for state contacts,"" Graul said.
Graul also indicated Green will not follow this type of negative campaigning strategy.
""While Jim Doyle continues to run his dishonest, dirty campaign,"" Graul said, ""Mark Green will continue to talk about his vision for a brighter, more hopeful vision of Wisconsin.""
However, Heck speculated Green will respond to Doyle with his own negative ad, continuing the cycle of dirty campaigning in the increasingly disappointing political climate.
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reports Green has raised $1.39 million since July, compared to just under a half a million by Doyle.
According to Heck, the money raised by Green is predominately a result of a large fundraiser this summer that President Bush attended.
""This will be the most expensive race for governor in the history of Wisconsin,"" Heck said. ""Generally speaking, the more money that is raised and spent on a campaigns, the more negative it becomes.""
Heck also said the negative atmosphere in Wisconsin politics is a recent development, especially after the conviction and sentencing of five former state legislators this past year in the caucus scandal.
""Wisconsin used to be known as a clean government state,"" Heck said. ""But this year, there is a great deal of public consciousness about corruption in Wisconsin government.""
