Petro's "Hypocrite'' ad irks Blackwell camp

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Petro’s latest TV ad labels his opponent, J. Kenneth Blackwell, a “hypocrite’’ for private investments Petro says contradict Blackwell’s anti-abortion, anti-gambling and pro-family public statements.

The Blackwell campaign says that when it comes to hypocrites, it takes one to know one.

The 30-second, black-and-white TV ad features a seated woman talking to the camera, asking “what word fits a person like Ken Blackwell when says he’s against gambling but owns stock in a slot machine company?’’

She repeats the question twice, saying Blackwell “talks family values but makes millions from the sale of radio stations that played songs full of violence and vulgar language’’ and “says he’s a strong opponent of abortion but owns stock in the firm that makes the abortion pill.’’

The Petro ad is based is based on an annual financial disclosure statement filed by Blackwell. It showed that he is partner in Blue Chip Broadcasting, a minority-owned radio station chain; and owned stock in International Game Technology of Nevada, which makes slot machines, and Barr Pharmaceuticals, maker of Plan B, the morning-after pill.

Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo said the Petro ad leaves the impression that Blackwell owns stock in a company that makes RU-486, the “abortion pill,’’ when in fact he owns stock in a company that makes “a contraceptive."

LoParo said Blackwell, the Ohio Secretary of State, has a stock portfolio managed much like a blind trust. When he found out about the slot machine stock, he instructed his portfolio manager to sell it, LoParo said.

Petro, LoParo said, “shouldn’t be calling anyone a hypocrite. He’s made a career out of his hypocrisies.’'

“He was a supporter of abortion until he ran for governor,’’ LoParo said. “He opposed the Ohio Marriage Amendment and now he says he has always opposed gay marriage.’’

Ohio Republican Party chairman Bob Bennett, who spanked Blackwell for running attack ads earlier this year, issued a statement Monday warning Petro that he, too, had committed a foul.

“I’m telling Jim today the same thing I told Ken a few weeks ago,'' Bennett said. "The race for governor should be about ideas and vision, not smear tactics and attack ads.''

Watch the ad here: