Courtesy of Tom Perriello's campaign

Photo comparison is released by Tom Perriello's campaign, which claims that Virgil Goode's campaign deliberately doctored his photograph to run in a television commercial. Goode did not explain the darkened photo.

In a recent television ad, U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Rocky Mount, says his 5th District congressional opponent Tom Perriello is "wrong for Virginia."

Monday, Perriello said he's the one that's been wronged, accusing Goode of using an ad that includes incorrect information, as well as one that depicts Perriello in a doctored photograph.

The commercial, paid for by Goode's campaign, displays a darkened image of the Democrat Perriello and uses part of a quote to support a voice-over in the ad that Perriello "opposes the offshore and Alaskan drilling" needed to lower gas prices.

The quote, "Drilling is a 2-cent solution to a $4 problem," is from a June 19 article published in the Danville Register & Bee, according to the ad.

What isn't included in the ad was the first part of a complete quote, in which Perriello said, "I support more drilling as one piece of a much bolder strategy for relief."

Goode, through an e-mailed response on Monday, said that he stands behind the ad and has no plans to pull it.

"The ad is correct. Mr. Perriello has said in debates and statements that he disagrees with my position ... for drilling in ANWR [Arctic National Wildlife Refuge] in Alaska," Goode wrote. "Perriello criticized me after the Charlottesville forum for my promotion of my prominent focus on pro-drilling in that forum. I am clearly more pro-drill than Perriello. As the ad says, he does not support the drilling that is needed to have a positive impact on gas prices."

In past debates, and even in the complete context of the article used, Perriello has said he supports off-shore drilling, but it's not the only solution to lower gas prices.

During a Sept. 3 debate between the two candidates in Danville, Perriello said, "I support drilling too ... but I'm not going to stand here and tell people it will solve everything tomorrow, because it's not. We need to solve this problem with facts. We need to solve this problem with reality, not slogans."

Perriello continues to list fuel alternatives and conservation as other avenues to help with the country's energy problem.

In his response Monday, Goode suggested that Perriello "adopt the Goode position on drilling and make it a focal point of the campaign."

Goode did not respond to a question about Perriello's claim about the doctored photo.

In several statements made in the past few days, the Perriello campaign said the ad contains "lies and distortions" and "terrible imaging."

"The 5th District deserves a leader who doesn't resort to lies and smears," said Jessica Barba, Perriello's communications director.

"We call on television stations who want to serve the public good to stand up against this libelous action and immediately pull the ad," she said.

None of the stations had responded to that request as of late Monday, Barba said.

Although attorney Lloyd Snook sent a letter to news stations on the Perriello campaign's behalf, no further legal action will be taken, Barba said.

Democratic figure takes stump for Obama

In another regional political matter, Terry McAuliffe will be at the Kirk Family YMCA this morning at 8:15 to hold a town hall meeting on behalf of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

McAuliffe, former chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will talk about Obama's presidential campaign plan to provide affordable health care to every American and bring down its cost for the typical family by as much as $2,500.

McAuliffe is also scheduled to hold a meeting in Lynchburg today at 12:45 p.m. at the Riverviews Art Space on Jefferson Street.