In one television ad, the League of Conservation Voters says Smith has "already broken the law" for accepting illegal campaign contributions, according to a Smith press release. The ad refers to a previous complaint filed by Schwarz that Smith violated Federal Election Commission rules earlier this year by improperly invoking the "millionaire's amendment" that allowed him to accept higher contributions than other candidates.

The FEC has yet to respond to the complaint.

Smith, a patent attorney, demanded that the League's 30-second attack ad be removed from the airwaves and said Lansing-based WLNS Channel 6 already has agreed not to show it.

"I am a member of the Michigan Bar," Smith said. "To defame my reputation and falsely accuse me of breaking the law goes far beyond simple dirty politics. It is libelous."

In two other ads, the Republican Main Street Partnership's political action committee questions how Smith would be influenced in Washington if he's elected.

A TV ad criticizes Smith for raising much of his campaign money from outside the district, while a radio ad takes him to task for being supported by the conservative Club for Growth, whose president has referred to farmers as "welfare recipients."

While both of the Partnership's ads say Smith has "raised two-thirds of his money from outside our district," Smith challenges the assertion.

"That claim is simply untrue and no one can produce records or reports, on record with the FEC or otherwise, that can demonstrate that they are true," Smith said.

A recent analysis by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network showed that 54 percent of Smith's itemized contributions came from outside the district.

MILLIKEN ENDORSES SCHWARZ

William Milliken, Michigan's longest serving governor, endorsed Joe Schwarz in his bid for Congress on Friday.

"Joe is one of those rare individuals who is desperately needed in public life and in the Congress of the United States," Milliken said in a written statement. "He's a straight shooter. He's honest and straightforward, and he means what he says."

Milliken, governor from 1969 to 1983, also endorsed Schwarz when he ran for governor in 2002. Schwarz lost that race when he failed to get the Republican nomination.

JUST A REMINDER

When you cast your vote in partisan races on Tuesday, you can vote for either Republicans or Democrats, but not both.

Michigan has an open primary, which means people who usually vote Democrat or Republican can "cross over" and vote for someone in the other party.

Only in the general election are voters allowed to split their ticket, which means they can vote for Democrats and Republicans on the same ballot.