TN-Sen: McCain advisor responsible for racist anti-Ford ad

Is this a sign of things to come in 2008?

Terry Nelson, who was in charge of the unit within the RNC that created the anti-Ford ad last week that had racial undertones, is also the senior advisor of John McCain's PAC that raises money for his possible presidential bid.  And according to Cox News, Nelson is also the head of a consulting firm called Crosslink Strategy -- which acts as a publicist for Wal-Mart.  But within the last few days, Wal-Mart cut its ties with Nelson due to all the outrage.

However, regardless of the Terry Nelson's smutty ad, Hill News reports that John McCain is refusing to fire him:

Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) PAC has no plans to cutties with top GOP strategist Terry Nelson, who ended his contract withWal-Mart this week amid complaints from Democrats and union groups overhis authorizing of the now-infamous Tennessee Senate ad linkingDemocratic nominee Rep. Harold Ford Jr. to a Playboy Bunny.

Nelsonheads the Republican National Committee's (RNC) independent expenditureunit, which sparked a pre-election dustup over racial rhetoric in theSouth with an ad featuring a bubbly white woman claiming to have metFord "at the Playboy party" and telling the young black Democrat,"Harold, call me!"

TheDemocratic National Committee (DNC) took aim on Sunday at RNC ChairmanKen Mehlman, who defended the Tennessee ad, and McCain, whose StraightTalk America PAC hired Nelson in March as a senior adviser.

"EvenWal-Mart fired Terry Nelson for his role in making this ad. Instead ofdoing what's right, Ken Mehlman and Republicans like John McCaincontinue to stand by Terry Nelson and these racist, divisive campaigntactics," DNC Communications Director Karen Finney said, adding that"Ken Mehlman and John McCain should fire Terry Nelson."

As of this moment, they are continuing to embrace Nelson's campaign tactics. 

If this is the kind of campaign John McCain plans to run in 2008, then he is more of a Rovian than a Maverick.