The National Republican Congressional Committee's telelvision ad promoting the candidacy of Martha Rainville for the U.S. House includes a line that sounded wrong.

The line is that Rainville was "called upon to serve by governors of both parties" and printed in the background as the narrator speaks these words are the names -- Gov. Richard Snelling and Gov. Howard Dean.

Since the ad opens with a reference to Rainville's selection as the nation's first female adjutant general, this reference to two governors calling her to serve seems to suggest Snelling and Dean picked her to be adjutant. In Vermont, of course, the Legislature elects the adjutant general and Rainville's terms in that office fell under the Dean and Douglas administrations.

Ed Patru, spokesman for the NRCC, had to do some research when questioned about this line in the ad, but he called back with the explanation.

Both Snelling and Dean appointed Rainville to the 6th District Environmental Commission, Patru said, adding that Rainville isn't pictured in her military uniform when that line is spoken.

"We think the facts are on our side," Patru concluded.

Factually correct? Agreed. Clear in the ad? Not really.

-- Nancy Remsen