Ohio Republican Sen. Mike DeWine is sticking with the political advertising firm that doctored images of the World Trade Center to make it appear as though the footage came from the September 11 attacks. The video was used in a 30-second campaign spot that has aired throughout Ohio since last Friday, accusing his opponent, Democratic Rep. Sherrod Brown, of being weak on national security. An investigation by U.S. News revealed that the images, which show the south tower ablaze and the north tower untouched – contradicting the chronology of the day's events – were bogus.

The firm that produced the commercial has been the subject of controversy before. Alexandria-based Stevens, Reed, Curcio & Potholm produced the famous "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" ads that challenged the war record of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry in 2004. Still, the DeWine campaign has no plans to ax the ad agency. "Stevens, Reed, Curcio & Potholm is a nationally recognized firm, and they will continue to do media consulting for the campaign," said DeWine spokesman Brian Seitchik.

The DeWine campaign learned of the faked video when contacted by U.S. News Wednesday evening. DeWine promised to immediately replace the video in question with a still image of the World Trade Center taken before the attacks. The campaign says the spot, now modified, will not be pulled anytime soon, despite ongoing controversy that has threatened to drown out the commercial's message. Long before yesterday's revelation, Democratic critics were lambasting the ad as an attempt to capitalize politically on the terrorist attacks. Republicans have made similar charges about the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's use of images of flag-draped coffins in ads criticizing the war in Iraq.

Still unclear is why DeWine's advertising firm would doctor an image of the twin towers when numerous photos and video accounts of the actual event are available. A source with some knowledge of the ad called the entire commercial "graphics based," with the computer-generated smoke just another part of the mix. Stevens, Reed, Curcio & Potholm did not return phone calls requesting comment. A source says no one has been fired from either the campaign or the ad agency as a result of the fallout.

Brown's campaign, already enraged over the ad, called the doctored images "shameless." Brown has seized this opportunity to question DeWine's character. "Mike DeWine has always run campaigns with attack ads and distortions," Brown said in an interview. For his part, DeWine insists it was an honest mistake that doesn't detract from the message of the ad. "The fact is we stand by the ad. Sherrod Brown and I have very different views and approaches to the defense of this country," DeWine said.

Brooks Jackson, director of the watchdog publication FactCheck.org, expressed mostly bemusement. "This seems to be a case of incompetence on the part of the media consultant," Jackson said, "not an attempt to deceive voters."

Nevertheless, DeWine's message is fueling the controversy surrounding the use of images evoking Sept. 11. Since the discovery of the distorted images, opinion leaders have trashed DeWine. In an editorial published today, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest newspaper, slammed the ad as a "$470,000 embarrassment" and suggested that "if DeWine and his campaign continue to make such inexcusable mistakes, DeWine will probably soon be referred to as a former senator."