NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- A political attack television ad linking Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., to Italian mobsters has angered New Jersey's Italian population.
The 30-second cable spot is a take-off on the "Sopranos" television show and features an actor imitating an Italian New Jersey accent, making reference to organized crime, the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reported Wednesday.
It was produced and paid for by the Free Enterprise Fund Committee, a conservative political action group trying to get state Sen. Tom Kean, R-Union, elected.
Kean issued a statement saying he had not requested or had a hand in making the ad but did not call for the group to stop running it, the newspaper said.
Emanuele Alfano, director of the Italian-American One Voice Committee, told the newspaper complaints began pouring in when the ad debuted six days ago.
"'Oh, you're an Italian and you're from New Jersey. You must be a mobster.' It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or a Republican. It's just wrong," Alfano said.
Italians represent the largest voting bloc in New Jersey, the newspaper said.
