GOP Pulling 'Hicky' Ad in West Virginia

The GOP is pulling a West Virginia campaign ad after the casting call for "hicky" actors was made public by Politico. "No one at the NRSC, or associated with the NRSC, had anything to do with the language used in this casting call," said a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Campaign. "We do not support it, and suffice to say, we would encourage our contractors to never work with this outside agency again." The spot criticizes Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin, who's facing Republican businessman John Raese in his bid to take over Robert Byrd's Senate seat.

The head of the West Virginia GOP, however, didn't view the spot as troublesome, reports the National Journal. "I have no problem with it whatsoever," said Mike Stuart. "What those folks said in that diner is what West Virginians are talking about. It's not going to be an issue here." A GOP official tells Politico the spot was due to be replaced soon anyway. "But clearly the Democrats want to use this to distract from Manchin’s record, and we have no intention of letting them." (More West Virginia stories.)