A full-page ad paid for by a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul in the Austin Chronicle asks, "Have you ever had sex with Rick Perry?"
The eyebrow-raising message comes less than one week after the Texas governor announced his candidacy for president of the United States. Justin Elliot at Salon calls attention to the ad in the newsweekly and notes that there is no evidence that Perry has engaged in an extramarital affair.
Text in the ad reads, "Are you a stripper, an escort, or just a 'young hottie' impressed by an arrogant, entitled governor of Texas? Contact CASH [Committee Against Sexual Hypocrisy], and we will help you publicize your direct dealings with a Christian-buzzwords-spouting, 'family values' hypocrite and fraud."
(Click here to view an image of the ad via Salon.)
The Lone Star State Republican's wife Anita has been spotted by his side on the campaign trail this week.
Earlier this summer before Perry jumped into the GOP primary mix, Politico reported that the Texas governor's camp was prepared to combat unfounded rumors dating back to as early as 2004 that Perry is gay should he run.
Perry himself addressed allegations roughly seven years ago that he and his wife planned to divorce and that he was gay. He told the Austin American-Statesman at the time that he was being targeted with a "smear campaign" being conducted by his political enemies.
The AP reported in 2004:
Perry said the rumors "are not correct in any shape, form or fashion. These are irresponsible. They're salacious. They're hurtful to my family."
...
"I don't think a rumor can just get to critical mass by itself," Perry said. "I think you have to have a well thought-out, organized effort to disseminate that kind of information and keep it going day after day after day after day."
A message at the bottom of the ad taken out in the Austin Chronicle reads, "Note to gay people. If you know the truth about Rick, please QUIT covering for him."
Since launching his campaign last weekend, Perry has commanded significant attention in the race for the GOP presidential nomination. Not all of the buzz, however, has been positive.
Perry ignited controversy earlier this week with inflammatory remarks about Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
"If this guy prints more money between now and the election, I don't know what y'all would do to him in Iowa, but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas," the White House contender said during a stop in Iowa. He said that in his eyes such an act would be "almost treasonous."
On the heels of drawing criticism with the statement he explained, "I am just passionate about the issue and we stand by what we said."
Politico reports that during a stop in New Hampshire on Wednesday, Paul quipped that Perry makes him "sound like a moderate."
A vocal critic of the Federal Reserve the Texas congressman said, "I have never once said Bernanke has committed treason." He added, "But I have suggested very strongly that the Federal Reserve system and all the members have been counterfeiters for a long time."
