Blog Comments Become Fodder For Attack Ads

Del. Timothy D. Hugo responded to criticism of his ad, saying the identity of the source is widely known. (Steve Helber - AP)

In an interview, Hugo defended the ad and said he will not pull it. He said the posting on Raising Kaine was not anonymous because it is widely known that "Pitin" is a Democratic activist who supported Simmons's opponent, Morris Meyer, in the Democratic primary.

"It is not anonymous to me," Hugo said. "A lot of Democrats have said that Rex Simmons runs an appalling, negative campaign."

Hugo said the ad is designed to counter mailers Simmons sent out criticizing his vote in favor of the transportation bill that included higher fees on bad drivers. Many Democratic challengers are using that vote against their GOP opponents. Republicans are trying to paint Democrats as soft on illegal immigration.

"He has done nothing but drop negative mail because he wants to hide from what his real positions are on illegal immigration," Hugo said.

Simmons said Hugo "is attacking me out of the gate because he has no positive issues to run on." Simmons said Hugo has reserved more than $150,000 worth of airtime on cable to run the ad.

"This sort of negative campaigning has been rejected in the past, and I believe voters in Virginia will do so again," said Simmons, who said it's not true that he supports amnesty for illegal immigrants.

The man Hugo identified as Pitin -- Nate de la Piedra, executive director of Next Generation Democrats -- did not return several telephone messages Friday seeking comment. Feld declined to confirm Pitin's identity, but other sources familiar with the Web site confirmed Pitin is de la Piedra.

A review of Raising Kaine shows Pitin frequently contributed diary entries, and de la Piedra supported Meyers in the Democratic primary. Pitin often accused Simmons of negative campaigning.

Hugo campaign advisers stressed that Pitin's entry is fair game because blogs are ultimately responsible for the comments that are posted on them.

They also said that much of future political advertising, especially in local races, probably will be sourced to blogs because that is where candidates and their supporters are migrating.

By attributing the ad to Raising Kaine, Feld said, Hugo wants voters to think Kaine opposes Simmons's candidacy. Kaine has endorsed Simmons.

Even though it appears that de la Piedra, 24, wrote the comments about Simmons in Hugo's ad, several people who study political advertising said Hugo's ad appears to violate a well-known standard in political campaigns that a charge against an opponent should be easy to verify.