Feinstein knocks ad linking Dole, Enron

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, right, criticized an ad tying GOP Senate candidate Elizabeth Dole, left, to Enron.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, criticized on Saturday her party's advertisement linking GOP Senate candidate Elizabeth Dole to the Enron scandal.

"I don't happen to like this," Feinstein said in an interview with CNN. "I'm not a great fan of this kind of ad."

The ad, sponsored by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, faults Dole for participating in a Texas fund-raiser hosted by embattled former Enron CEO Kenneth Lay. Enron Corp. has collapsed and is under investigation accused of questionable accounting practices and destruction of key documents.

Dole is seeking the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Jesse Helms.

The event, which raised $20,000, was held September 20, just nine days after the terrorist attacks. After the attacks, Dole said she was putting her campaign on hold.

Lay and his family contributed $5,000 to the Dole campaign. She has announced that she will donate that money to a fund established to help financially strapped Enron employees.

Dole, a former Cabinet secretary and president of the American Red Cross, sought the Republican presidential nomination before the 2000 election.