Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder launched a new campaign ad today in which he calls for an end to political bickering in the Michigan gubernatorial race.

"If you're as tired of career politicians bickering and attacking each other rather than focusing on solving Michigan's economic problems as I am, take a look at my newest ad, 'Less Bickering, More Results,'" Snyder said in a statement announcing his fifth television ad, which will air across Michigan starting today.

Rick Snyder

In the 30-second commercial, Snyder directly addresses recent attack ads launched by the Mike Cox campaign and the counter attacks from the Pete Hoekstra campaign. The two sides have gone back and forth slinging mud at each other in recent weeks.

"Already, some of the career politicians I'm running against have decided to take the negative campaigning route because that's what politicians do," Snyder said. "In Lansing, the bickering between politicians and special interests has stood in the way of long-term solutions. I'm running to break down those barriers, provide a fresh approach and deliver real results to citizens — just as I've done in the private sector. As I say in my ad, I believe we need lower taxes, honest budgeting and conservative management to put Michigan on the right path."

To view the ad on YouTube, click here.

Cox went negative with an attack ad focused on Hoekstra's spending record. He criticized the congressman for co-sponsoring the "bridge to nowhere," and claimed that, even worse, Hoekstra "built a bridge for Wall Street" by voting for the bailout.

Cox also criticized Hoekstra for voting to increase spending by $1 trillion and "making big government bigger." He continued to bash his opponent with a second television ad this month in which he claimed Hoekstra contributed to expanding the national debt limit by $5 trillion and pushed a multibillion-dollar tax hike.

Hoekstra's campaign has fired back with attacks against Cox. Hoekstra spokesman John Truscott issued a recent statement highlighting Cox's "nasty side."

"I guess when you don't have anything positive to say about yourself as a candidate, you attack the other guy," Truscott said. "It's sad that the best Mike Cox has to offer is to attempt to divert attention from his own scandals and shortcomings."

Truscott has questioned the legitimacy of Cox's campaign, suggesting "nobody knows anything about him except what they hear in terms of the controversy with the Manoogian mansion and Kwame." Truscott was referring to an alleged coverup of the beating of a stripper at the Detroit mayor's official residence involving then-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Cox's office investigated the rumors, which Cox eventually dismissed as an "urban legend."

Hoekstra's campaign issued a new statement today, calling Cox's attack ads a "desperate attempt" to distort Hoekstra's record in Congress. Hoekstra has served nine consecutive terms in the House of Representatives since winning his first election in 1992.

Hoekstra’s campaign is questioning whether the Cox campaign is coordinating attack ads with a private group after two similar ads appeared at the same time containing the same criticisms, one produced by the Cox campaign and one produced by a group called Americans for Job Security.

Cox's campaign has denied any coordination with the group, but Hoekstra's campaign claims this would not be the first time AJS has worked in conjunction with a campaign to hit fellow Republicans. Earlier this week, a complaint was filed against AJC in Colorado for violating Federal Election Committee laws by coordinating with a campaign while claiming an independent expenditure.

“A person can often be judged by the company they keep, so it is not surprising to hear that Mike Cox’s campaign shares a strong connection to Americans for Job Security," Truscott said. "Mike Cox is not interested in running an honest campaign based on his principles and record, he is more interested in doing whatever it takes to smear his opponents."

Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.