[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=willqUM6J6M[/youtube]

Joe Mallahan's new ad goes on the attack:

1) It accuses Mike McGinn of running negative ads.

2) It accuses McGinn of flip-flopping on the tunnel.

3) It accuses McGinn of having no management experience.

4) It says McGinn's surface/transit option would put 70,000 more cars on downtown streets.

5) And the most devastating part: It has a clip of McGinn on KING 5 saying, "I'm not the guy you probably want to ask to make sure all the columns add up."

I asked Mallahan's campaign for the context of McGinn's blooper quote.

Mallahan spokeswoman Charla Neuman tells me:

It was in response to a question [on KING 5] about what were some of his weaknesses or shortcomings.  It was fairly straightforward.  I believe that’s what they call, 'straight out of the horse’s mouth.'

Didn’t have time in the ad to do the full quote where he later adds, "I’m not really a details guy."

I asked McGinn about the quote too. He said it was a KING 5 interview with Jean Enersen, who asked him about his weaknesses. McGinn said the bit about "not the guy  ... to make sure all the columns add up" and then said that, as mayor, he would surround himself with details people.

"Are we hiring a bookkeeper or a leader?" McGinn said to me this afternoon.

He also groused that PubliCola was giving Mallahan free media by posting Mallahan's ad. "You're obviously posting the video since you're asking me about it. What about Mallahan's style of leadership? What he's demonstrated through this campaign is that he doesn't talk to the press. He takes his advice from insiders. And all he has is attack ads because he doesn't have a vision for the city."