Ford's Republican opponent, former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, has asked Tennessee television stations not to run the spot, calling it "over the top." But the ad has continued to run -- and on Monday the Republican National Committee was unapologetic.
"I won't even entertain the premise" that the ad is racially offensive, said Danny Diaz, a Republican Party spokesman. He said the allegation was "not fair and not serious and not accurate."
Diaz said the ad was an "independent expenditure" produced by an arm of the Republican National Committee that is legally prohibited from coordinating with Mehlman. Because of this, Diaz said, Mehlman did not see or approve the ad before its release.
Democratic strategist Donna Brazile said Monday that she was shocked by the ad. Brazile, an African American who has forged a friendship with Mehlman and White House strategist Karl Rove, said she intended to call Mehlman to request that the Republican National Committee discontinue the ad.
"With this ad, Mehlman's apology rings hollow," she said, referring to the 2005 speech.
John Geer, a Vanderbilt University political scientist who published a book this year on attack ads, "In Defense of Negativity," said he had watched the anti-Ford spot repeatedly in recent days.
"I just couldn't believe what I was seeing," he said. "I don't see how you can think it's not playing a racial card. It's making references to interracial sex. It's an ad that is in some sense breaking new lows."
For Mehlman, such criticism is unusual. He has won accolades from African American leaders for aggressive outreach efforts, speaking to more than 50 black organizations since becoming chairman in 2005.
His remarks on the Southern strategy were viewed as a milestone in the GOP effort to diversify the party base by attracting blacks with messages of economic empowerment and appeals to faith.
The party is fielding black candidates in three major races this year in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Ford, though, has proved a challenge for the GOP. He has run as a hawkish Democrat, opposed to amnesty for illegal immigrants and a supporter of banning gay marriage. His race with Corker is considered to be neck-and-neck.
A new response ad by Ford that began airing Monday features the candidate, talking to the camera, accusing Corker of unleashing attacks rather than talking issues.
"If I had a dog," Ford says, "he'd probably kick him too."
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peter.wallsten@latimes.com
