Denise Giardina for Governor of West Virginia

Third-party candidate Denise Giardina's gubernatorial campaign drew national attention Wednesday with an advertisement on the op-ed page of the New York Times.

Paid for by TomPaine.com, part of a Washington-based nonprofit foundation, the quarter-page ad, opposite the Times' editorial page, features Giardina's picture with the headline, "A Challenge to King Coal: Denise Giardina and her Mountain Party."

The text of the advertisement describes West Virginia as "America's own slice of the third world."

"A powerful clique of good ol' boys plunder the state's natural resources - especially coal - while the masses contend with shabby schools, environmental destruction, inadequate public services, and unresponsive government," it states.

The ad states that the status quo has a challenger this year in Giardina.

"She hopes to show that while West Virginia may act like a Banana Republic it is, in fact, still a democracy."

It notes that Giardina is challenging "frontrunner Bob Wise, but he's dodging debates that include her."

The ad does not mention that Gov. Cecil Underwood is running for re-election.

"In a state run by and for King Coal, what chance does such a candidate have of raising enough money to compete? Not much," it states. "Does that mean her ideas are not valid if the cash constituents don't back her? Of course not."

The ad concludes that the current election system "makes money, not merit, the most important measure of an idea's worth and a candidate's success. That is the true and tragic corruption of democracy."

Giardina, who said she had not seen the ad Wednesday, said it is additional evidence of national interest in her candidacy.

"I think it shows this is a legitimate campaign," she said.

"I'm pretty proud there's national interest in this campaign," Giardina added. "I think it shows West Virginia is in the forefront of independent politics."

TomPaine.com, named for the American patriot and author of "Common Sense," runs a weekly op-ed advertisement in the Times with commentary on political, environmental and media issues.

Its mission, according to the Internet site, is "to enrich the national debate on controversial public issues often overlooked by the mainstream media."

The Web site this week features several articles on the campaign and state politics, including a more lengthy analysis of Giardina's candidacy, as well as an article by state native Jedediah Purdy titled, "The Tragedy of King Coal."

Purdy, a Yale University student, wrote the best-seller, "For Common Things: Irony, Trust and Commitment in America Today."