Paul distances himself from ad seeking dirt on Perry’s personal life

Ron Paul insisted Friday he has nothing to do with an ad published in an Austin newspaper this week by one of his supporters that seeks dirt on Rick Perry's sex life.

In an interview with Fox News, the Texas congressman insisted he hadn't heard about the ad and suggested it was "silly" that he was even asked about it.

"I don't know how something like that qualifies as a question on national TV, as if it's something serious," Paul said, per GOP 12's Christian Heinz. "I would say it speaks for itself, and for me to address… would give it too much credibility."

"Bringing it up," he added, "gives it way more credibility than it deserves. It's rather silly. How can this be a significant issue in a presidential race?"

As The Ticket reported Thursday, Robert Morrow, who is backing Paul in 2012, ran a full page ad in the Austin Chronicle seeking information on Perry's personal life. "Have you ever had sex with Rick Perry?" the ad says.

The Perry campaign has condemned the ad.