Hansen's ad prompted McKay to start another series of ads Thursday attacking Hansen for not apologizing for missing the vote nor explaining where he was during it. The ad says Hansen was earning money by giving a speech in Las Vegas.

David Dixon, press secretary for McKay, said that ad was justified to answer inaccurate information in Hansen's ad - such as that McKay was attacking Hansen's attendance record. Both camps say they will avoid negative campaigning in the future - just as they say they personally have done all along.

McKay has said, "Utahns don't like negative campaigns, and I have never run a negative campaign. Whenever we give the voters an opportunity to examine the record, Jim says we're out of line. Shouldn't the voters have the chance to know where both candidates stand?"

He added, "In this campaign, we are going to focus on leadership and the issues. In this campaign, we are going to take an aggressive look at my opponent's record. And in this campaign, we are going to ask the voters: `What has Jim Hansen done for you?' "

Jenks said Hansen's ads that attacked McKay ran only three days and were replaced Wednesday by ads stressing Hansen's accomplishments and who is better for the district and America. "They take a very high road."

When asked if Hansen's charge that McKay was guilty of negative campaigning was itself a form a negative campaigning, Jenks said, "No, it was simply calling attention to Gunn's ad and to question whether he is trying to avoid his record." In other words, it was again merely "examining the record."