COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford said an ad critical of the House's top budget writer prompted him to call the taxpayer group's leader and his own political consultant.

The ads "were in poor taste," Sanford said Thursday, a day after the ads begin airing.

The ad from Americans for Tax Reform talks about state Rep. Bobby Harrell's push for the Palmetto Bowl and says it is a $5 million "boondoggle" for taxpayers. Pictures of the Charleston Republican flash on the screen with Harrell's name.

Grover Norquist, the tax group's president, said Wednesday that Harrell's actions became fodder for the association's efforts to curb corporate welfare and pork barrel spending.

Sanford said he has a call into Norquist. "I'm going to have that conversation. I have not had it yet," Sanford said.

Americans for Tax Reform used Red Sea, a political consultant firm run by Jon Lerner, in the ads. Sanford also uses the company.

"One of the first guys I called yesterday afternoon was Jon Lerner, saying 'What is the story with this,'" Sanford said. "His point was 'I ain't working for you. I'm working for Americans for Tax Reform. ... I work for a lot of different people,'"

Sanford added, "That's his prerogative."

The govenernor said he thinks he will continue to use Red Sea as a consultant.