G.O.P. SOUNDS

Listeners to black radio stations are the target of new ads from conservative groups and G.O.P. national and state parties. In one, a black woman gripes that Democrats "tax my smokes." In a Missouri G.O.P. ad, awoman tells her granddaughter, "Baby, there are some real ugly Democrats that have hurt black people." Many of these ads come from the Council for Better Government, set up by a former Kansas G.O.P. official, John Altevogt. It vows to spend $1.5million in 12 states, including New Jersey, North Carolina and Georgia. One Democratic official complains the ads are "about suppressing black votes, not winning them over." Altevogt denies this, saying, "We're out to elevate the level of discourse."