Controversy over 'rat ad' continues among GOP candidates

ATLANTA - A Republican candidate for governor is criticizing his opponent for making a video that portrays Democratic Governor Barnes as a giant rat. <br> <br> Bill Byrne criticized the ad this afternoon at a press conference. He said personal attacks on the incumbent governor serve only to cheapen the campaign. <br> <br> The campaign video was produced for Sonny Perdue, one of three GOP candidates hoping to challenge Barnes in the November fifth general election. Perdue began releasing it to campaign supporters and over the Internet last month. <br> <br> Byrne also debuted a 30-second TV spot today which he said will air in Atlanta next week taking Perdue to task for the ad. <br> <br> While scenes of the rat, taken from Perdue&#39;s video, flash on the screen, Byrne declares in the ad: ``Serious issues face Georgia today, but politicians like Sonny Perdue belittle us with ads calling the governor a rat.&#39;&#39;

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/6/193689