Consumer Reports unhappy with Senate ads

SPRINGFIELD -- U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is in hot water with Consumer Reports magazine.

Giannoulias is running two campaign ads that include the Consumer Reports logo and a quote from the magazine. But the watchdog publication tries to stay strictly neutral and doesn't let businesses or politicians use its name.

An official with the organization that produces Consumer Reports said Friday they'll be contacting Giannoulias to demand that he stop using the quote and logo.

"We do not know this individual, nor do we endorse this candidacy," said Elisa Odabashian, director of Consumers Union's West Coast office and state campaigns.

"He's misusing our brand," she said. "It's not legal for him to do that."

Giannoulias spokeswoman Kati Philips said the campaign will stop using the Consumer Reports logo if asked but has no plans to stop using the magazine's name and quote.

"We can use the name," she said. "We're not misrepresenting anything."

The Consumer Reports Web site says material from the magazine "may not be used by others in advertising," although that policy mentions only business ads, not political messages.

The Giannoulias ads talk about the Bright Start college savings program he oversees as state treasurer. The ads say, accurately, that Consumer Reports said last year that Bright Start was "worthy of an A."