A new attack ad from the National Republican Congressional Committee against Democrat Michael Arcuri was supposed to start airing tonight on television stations across the 24th Congressional District.  However six television stations, including WKTV, have elected not to run the commercial.

The ad claims a phone call to an adult hot-line appeared on a hotel room bill for Democrat Michael Arcuri while he attended the 2004 New York State District Attorney's Association conference in New York City. The call lasted less than a minute and carried a charge of $1.25. Oneida County paid for Arcuri's hotel room bill including the $1.25 charge but was later reimbursed for the charge. The new ad ends with a graphic that labels this a "bad call".

CLICK HERE to see still images from the ad
CLICK HERE to read a script for the ad

Speaking by phone Friday with reporters, Arcuri said the call was a mistake. He says two other lawyers were with him during the trip. One of them was trying to call the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services at 518-457-8462. But the person called 800-457-8462 which is the phone sex hot-line in question. Arcuri claims the lawyer was mistaken and was trying to use a calling card to call the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The Democrat points to second call less than a minute later to another 800 number this one a calling card number.

CLICK HERE to see Arcuri's hotel room phone bill

Arcuri also says the 800 number the person called may not have been a phone sex hot-line at that time. He says the number has since been changed. "We do not know who that number belonged to at the time", Arcuri told reporters. "We only know that number has been changed since that time at least once. At the present time, that number is to a sex line"

NEWSChannel 2 did speak with Arcuri's opponent Republican Raymond Meier. Meier, who had not seen the ad, denounced it by saying "It is over the line and I don't want to be associated with this type of politics and I indicated that to the National Republican Committee."

 CLICK HERE to watch full interview with Ray Meier - 2 minutes

The ad was paid for by the National Republican Congressional Committee.  Federal election law states the candidates have no control over third party advertisements.

Both the Republican and Democratic National Committees have produced negative advertisements during the course of the campaign. The DCCC attacked Ray Meier's stand on taxes linking him to the Oneida County sales tax increase last year. The NRCC has been airing an ad claiming Mike Arcuri let an alleged rapist go free without being formally charged.

On Friday, Meier said he wished both parties would stay out of this race. "I wish both national parties would let Mike Arcuri and me run our races and campaign. I don't know if it confuses people but it certainly disgusts them."