Washington ( CNN ) -- The National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee released a tough ad Friday that links the Democratic challenger in a competitive House race in Nebraska to a convicted serial killer . The ad , which comes weeks before voters will decide the fate of incumbent Rep. Lee Terry , slams Democrat Brad Ashford for supporting a `` good time '' law that released convicted robber Nikko Jenkins from prison after he served half his sentence . Jenkins killed four people shortly after his release , a case that was highly publicized in Nebraska . The TV spot opens with a news clip of a shackled Jenkins angrily shouting in the direction of news cameras before a picture of Jenkins ' heavily tattooed face next to a shotgun appears on screen . Responding to the ad Ashford 's campaign manager , Kurt Gonska , said , `` it 's clear that Congressman Terry is fearing for his political life and will say and do anything to keep his $ 174,000 salary . '' The House Democratic campaign arm immediately condemned the spot and called on the NRCC to apologize and pull the ad , which is expected to run for the next week , from the airwaves . `` This repellent , race-baiting ad has no place in America , '' Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Ashley Lewis said . `` Republicans should be ashamed that they have resorted to divisive rhetoric , playing up racial stereotypes and fear-mongering to save their sinking candidate . '' Jenkins is black , and the ad drew immediate comparisons to the 1988 Willie Horton attack ad , which overtly tied Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis to the crimes convicted murderer Willie Horton committed while on weekend furlough under Dukakis ' governorship . The ad was believed to be wildly effective in compounding claims that Dukakis was soft on crime , but has since been widely repudiated by both the left and right . Republicans do n't appear ready to condemn this ad , and NRCC spokesman Tyler Houlton said the committee has no plans to cancel the ad buy . `` Brad Ashford 's record on crime is fair game , '' Houlton said , noting that Ashford still defends the law . `` Nebraska voters deserve to know that Brad Ashford supports policies that have made them less safe . '' Terry campaign manager Kent Grisham attempted to slightly distance the campaign from the ad , but would not condemn it . `` There 's no denying the ad is factual . However , our campaign has made it a point in our advertising not to invoke the names of specific criminals or victims , '' Grisham said . `` Still , the ad reflects the issues of this campaign , one of which is why does Brad Ashford still support the good time law ? '' The NRCC expects to spend about $ 1 million in the contentious Nebraska race . About $ 170,000 will keep this ad on air for a week .
Campaign ad for House incumbent Rep. Brad Ashford slams Democratic Lee Terry . It criticizes his support for a `` good time '' law that led to convict 's early release . Ad notes the convict later killed half people .