BY KYM LIEBLER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Former U.S. Rep. Frank Cremeans will hit the airwaves today with a 60-second radio spot featuring Gov. George Voinovich and Lt. Gov. Nancy Hollister singing his praises.
But there's a hitch, and it's a big one: The radio spot was made in 1996 when Mr. Cremeans, a Republican, was running for re-election against a Democrat in the 6th Congressional District race.
This time around, Mrs. Hollister is his opponent in Tuesday's Republican primary. Both want the nomination to face Democrat Ted Strickland of Lucasville in November.
With no disclaimer telling listeners the ad is 18 months old, Mrs. Hollister and members of her campaign team are flabbergasted. "My biggest concern, obviously, is that Nancy does not endorse Frank," said Chris Baldwin, Mrs. Hollister's campaign manager. "But beyond that, this is blatant deception on his part and clearly the act of a desperate man."
But Mr. Cremeans said if the endorsements were valid two years ago, they're valid today.
"Frank Cremeans is no different today than he was a little more than 12 months ago," he said. "I'm not going to alter their words. My voting record then was the same as it is now."
The Gallipolis businessman said the ad will air on 16 radio stations throughout the 14-county district until Tuesday.
Other candidates in the race are Michael Azinger of Marietta, Thomas Sharpe of Belpre and Grant Michael Browne of Chillicothe. Mr. Voinovich opens the radio spot saying, "I want to talk to you about a man that's fighting hard for us in Washington. Frank Cremeans has done a great job of helping us in southern Ohio."
The governor goes on to laud Mr. Cremeans for fighting to expand an airport runway in Wilmington for Airborne Express, saying, "Four thousand new jobs will be the result."
Next come words of support from Mrs. Hollister, a former Marietta mayor. "I know firsthand the challenges faced in southern Ohio. I also know firsthand our congressman, Frank Cremeans," she says, before wrapping the radio ad with a rousing, "Frank Cremeans is making a real difference for all of us."
Mr. Cremeans, who lost the congressional seat in November 1996 to Mr. Strickland, said he consulted with lawyers before rereleasing the radio spot. "This is my property," he said. "I paid for this ad and I can do with it what I want."
The Hollister campaign issued a news release Thursday denouncing the radio spot and telling voters it is misleading.
"The difference is that two years ago, Frank was running against a Democrat and we wanted to maintain the seat," Mr. Baldwin said. "Nancy was being a good Republican like everyone else fighting to get him re-elected. This is ludicrous and very unfair to deceive the voters in the last weekend of a campaign."
Caryn Candisky, spokeswoman for the Voinovich for Senate campaign, called the radio spot "bizarre and disappointing."
"I think the voters of the 6th Congressional District are well aware of Gov. Voinovich's support for Nancy Hollister in this race and will see through the deceptive advertisement," Ms. Candisky said.
