Photo: Mark Humphrey/APThe Tennessee Senate race this week featured an ad that has drawn even more attention to what is already a fascinating contest.
For a start, the contest is extremely close with the candidates neck-and-neck in the polls when the Republicans thought it would be an easy hold. Second, the outcome could determine whether the Democrats retake the Senate, currently with 55 Republicans, 44 Democrats and one Independent.
Third, Harold Ford, the Democratic party's candidate, who is up against Bob Corker, is seeking to become the first black senator from the South, since Reconstruction following the civil war.
The TV ad (available via the New York Times), broadcast last week until yesterday, features a coquettish white woman, who says she met Mr Ford at a Playboy party. The commercial ends with her looking at the camera and saying, with a wink: "Harold, call me."
The spot is only 30 seconds long, but it has generated plenty of controversy, with Democrats accusing the Republicans of playing the race card. Even the Canadians are upset as one man in the ad says "Canada can take care of North Korea - they're not busy", prompting the Canadian ambassador to complain to the White House. Bob Corker has ridiculed the notion that the ad contains any racial overtones.
The Angry Independent, blogging on Mirror on America thinks people are too quick to see the Republican attack ads as racist, but he believes racism is part and parcel of the contest.
"'I'm convinced that the only reason the contest is even close right now is because Ford is Black.... plain and simple. If Ford were a white candidate, I just don't believe that Corker would have much of a chance."
