With a barrage of political attack ads airing on Nebraska radio outlets days before Tuesday's primary election, Republican congressional candidate Greg Ruehle on Sunday joined the chorus of GOP voices calling foul.

A national political organization that describes itself as "a voice for centrist Republicans" began airing ads tying Ruehle to anti-agriculture sentiments voiced by the pro-business Club for Growth.

The conservative antitax club, which is conducting television and radio ad campaigns attacking GOP congressional candidate Curt Bromm, is supporting Ruehle in the 1st District House race.

"If the Club for Growth doesn't like Nebraska farmers, then why are they telling us who to vote for and why is Greg Ruehle taking their money?" the Republican Main Street Partnership political action committee asks in the newest radio advertising message beamed to 1st District voters.

Ruehle, executive vice president of the Nebraska Cattlemen, said the ads "misrepresent, and are intended to misrepresent, and distort my record."

That record, he said, demonstrates he has been "a strong leader on behalf of farmers and ranchers" through the formation of three farm bills.

"Farmers and ranchers have a chance to send somebody to Washington who has first-hand experience in drafting farm bills on their behalf," Ruehle said.

Rather than focusing on the negative during the final hours of the primary campaign, Ruehle said, he'll push his "message of economic conservatism as a candidate committed to lower taxes, creating good new jobs, prioritizing federal spending and addressing budget deficits."

Ruehle's remarks followed on the heels of Gov. Mike Johanns' criticism of the latest anti-Bromm radio ads. The governor, who is remaining neutral in what has developed into a heated three-man Republican struggle, said Saturday the advertising claim that Johanns couldn't trust Bromm in dealing with him as Speaker of the Legislature was "a below-the-belt shot" that was both inaccurate and unfair.

Bromm parted company with the governor when he cast a legislative vote to increase state taxes, as well as cut spending, in crafting a budget during Nebraska's recent revenue shortfall. But "trust was never an issue" in dealing with Bromm, the governor said.

Earlier, Republican Rep. Doug Bereuter attacked the Club for Growth's $144,000 TV ad campaign, suggesting the organization is attempting to buy the House seat.

Bereuter, who is leaving the 1st District seat after 26 years in Congress, is listed on the Republican Main Street Partnership Web site as an elected official who is a member. The congressman will step down from his House post to become president of the Asia Foundation, effective Sept. 1.

The partnership was founded in 1998 "to promote thoughtful leadership in the Republican Party (and) partner with individuals, organizations and institutions that share centrist values."

Bromm issued a statement asking the Main Street organization to "stop any further negative advertising (even though) my opponents have not denounced the Club for Growth's negative campaigning against me."

Nebraskans, rather than "an outside special interest group," must decide who will represent them in Congress, he said.

Bromm currently is airing TV ads responding to the Club for Growth's attacks, declaring that the congressional seat is not for sale.

The third leading Republican contender, Jeff Fortenberry, has not been involved in the ad war.

The Republican Main Street ads state that the Club for Growth has described the GOP farm program as "the worst farm bill in American history" and has compared American farmers to welfare recipients.

The club's president has suggested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture should be abolished, the ads state.

"I think the club should take its nasty politics back to Washington where it belongs and leave us Nebraskans alone," a voice on the ad suggests.

Other Republicans in the House race include Bob Van Valkenburg, Andrew Ringsmuth, Daniel Manning and Greg Walburn.