Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner today released the first of three planned TV ads for his election campaign.

 In his hunt for votes, the underdog Horner is hoping Minnesotans' eyeballs are attracted to a pair of wandering eyes . . . one red eyeball looking to the far right and one blue eyeball looking to the far left.

The 30-second spot will run during the Sunday morning network news programs, such as "Meet the Press" and "This Week," with the idea of defining Horner as someone opposed to the "great left and right divide," said Horner campaign manager Stephen Imholte.

Horner's campaign plans to run three ads at a cost in excess of $100,000, Imholte said. The ads are being produced by the Clarity Coverdale Fury Agency of Minneapolis.

In the first ad, a somewhat pudgy white guy's face confronts the viewer with his red and blue eyes wandering to the farthest extremes of his face. Then, a smiling, business-like Horner emerges with a cityscape behind him and reiterates his campaign theme of "common sense."

In keeping with his image of being a more middle-of-the-road solution, Horner had the wisdom and genetics to be born with ... green eyes.

Meanwhile, in another advertisement (below) that's sure to draw attention, Horner will be displaying billboard-like ads in the men's bathrooms at the State Fair, which begins Thursday. Again, going to the left-right extreme theme, Horner is telling men in the restrooms: "Too far right. Too far left. Not good in here. Not good in the governor's office."

Of the ads, Imholte said: "We want to make a splash."

There's a tamer version for the women's bathrooms: "Pushing solutions. Not extreme agendas."