Oxendine airing radio campaign ad

Republican gubernatorial hopeful John Oxendine has launched the first paid advertising campaign of the 2010 race.

Oxendine’s team announced Tuesday the launch of a statewide radio ad that asks voters to call his campaign with ideas for improving state government.

RELATED:
• Oxendine returns controversial contributions
• Hear Oxendine's radio ad

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To hear the ad go to www.johnoxendine.com/media/contractwithga.wav.

The ad comes after a series of articles by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution detailing the more than $120,000 in campaign contributions Oxendine’s campaign has received from a series of Alabama-based political action committees with links to a pair of Georgia insurance companies. Oxendine is the state’s insurance commissioner.

After the AJC’s initial reporting, Oxendine decided to return the money and asked the State Ethics Commission for an advisory opinion. A government watchdog has also filed an ethics complaint against Oxendine.

The ad does not address the controversy. Instead it names Oxendine as the “one candidate for governor who offers positive solutions — who understands real Georgia families and the issues that matter to us.”

Oxendine strategist Jeff Breedlove said the ad will air more than 500 times on 147 stations statewide, including WSB and WGST in Atlanta. Using station demographics and past GOP primary votes, the campaign estimates the ad could reach 1.8 million Republican voters.