Oklahoma's attorney general and his opponent call on TV stations to stop running ads

This is a screen grab from a negative ad that accuses Attorney General Mike Hunter of twisting the truth about his opponent, Gentner Drummond. The ad began airing Monday.

Attorney General Mike Hunter is asking TV stations to immediately stop airing a political ad about him that he called a deliberate lie.

An opponent, Gentner Drummond, is making a similar demand about a political ad that described the challenger as uncaring, unethical and unfit to be attorney general.

The "cease and desist" letters sent to TV stations Tuesday are the latest twist in a race that is growing increasingly bitter. Both Republicans are spending heavily on negative ads about each other. The primary election is June 26.

Hunter is complaining about an ad that states he gave to two Democratic congressional leaders years ago. "This statement is demonstrably false and deceptive," his campaign manager, Robyn Matthews, told TV stations.