Romney said after the Ricketts' announcement that he "repudiates" such an ad and called it the "wrong course for a PAC or campaign."

"I hope campaigns can be about the future and issues," he said at a campaign stop in Jacksonville, Fla. "I've been disappointed in the president's campaign to date that has focused on character assassination."

Romney said his campaign would post a new ad in a few days that is "positive" and that highlights the centerpiece of  his campaign -- getting Americans back to work. 

Romney's campaign spent the earlier part of the day trying to keep its distance from the supposed ad, but suggested it's no worse than what the Obama team is already doing. The Obama campaign in turn accused Republicans of going to "appalling lengths" to "tear down" the president. 

But neither side, it seemed, was all too interested in rehashing the debate over Wright, whose race-related comments became a problem for Obama during his 2008 run for the Democratic presidential nomination.