Rep. John Mica is accusing his primary opponent, fellow GOP Rep. Sandy Adams, of breaking House ethics rules by using a recording of floor proceedings in a campaign ad against him.

Mica has asked television networks not to show the ad, which briefly shows a clip of President Obama’s State of the Union address in which Mica tells the president “I’m your best cheerleader.”

In a letter to stations broadcasting the ad, the Mica campaign states that the House Ethics Committee has been informed of this violation.

“Throughout this election, the Adams campaign has used distortion and mistruths to attempt to win an election,” said John Dowless, consultant to the Mica campaign. “In this last desperate attack it appears they may have crossed the ethical line, disregarding a long-standing House Ethics Rule to prevent political use of official C-Span broadcasts.”

In response, the Adams’s campaign is claiming that the complaint shows Mica is eager to “cover up” the clip. “John Mica’s desperation knows no bounds,” said Adams spokeswoman Lisa Boothe. “He will do anything he can to cover up the fact that he is President Obama’s best cheerleader.”

Mica and Adams will face off in the August 14 GOP primary battle for Florida’s newly drawn 7th congressional district.

Tags | ad, Barack Obama, cheerleader, House Ethics Committee, John Dowless, John Mica, Lisa Boothe, Sandy Adams