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By Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 14, 1998; Page A08

Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (Ill.), one of the Democratic Party's most endangered incumbents, has begun airing an ad in which the first-term lawmaker mysteriously acknowledges unidentified mistakes.

"I know I've made some mistakes and disappointed some people," she says into the camera. "But I want you to know that I've always tried to do what's best for Illinois."

Pressed by reporters to explain her mea culpa, Moseley-Braun said: "I'm aware that it has not been all hunky-dory and it's not all been perfect and that I am sorry to the extent that I failed to communicate or failed to meet expectations."

Campaign spokesman Patrick Hannan said the ad was running statewide, though he would not describe the size of the media buy. He said focus groups previewing the spot reacted favorably to Moseley-Braun's willingness to speak directly to voters.

"Our opponent is running a bit of a stealth campaign," he said, referring to GOP nominee Peter Fitzgerald. "They were impressed by her honesty; they liked hearing her talk to them."

Since taking office in 1993, the Senate's first black woman has faced a litany of ethics charges, including allegations that a former fiance spent campaign funds on clothes and travel.

In the 30-second ad she makes a pitch for priorities such as school construction and managed-care reform.

Polls have shown the incumbent from 13 to 15 percentage points behind Fitzgerald, a conservative state senator who spent about $8 million of his own money on the GOP primary.