Wealthy businessman Walt Minnick (D) hit the television airwaves this week with a new ad that features his Republican supporters urging voters to oust incumbent GOP Rep. Bill Sali.

Although Congressional candidates routinely organize supporters from the opposing party, Minnick’s GOP backers appear to be prominent — and more than simply a collection of garden-variety disaffected Republicans. The 1st district is solid conservative territory, but some polls have shown the race to be close.

Included in Minnick’s television ad are Boise City Councilor Vern Bisterfeldt; Pat Pettiette, described as a past donor to President Bush and Sen. Mike Crapo (R); and attorney J. Walter Sinclair, referred to as a past donor to one-time presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), the National Republican Congressional Committee, Rep. Mike Simpson (R) and former Sen. Dirk Kempthorne (R).

Also featured in the ad are retired Army Lt. Gen. James Thompson, the former chief of staff to three GOP mayors of Boise; and Republican activist Marilyn Locander.

“Bill Sali is not the leader that Idaho needs right now,” Sinclair says in the ad.

“He is too confrontational,” Thompson adds.

“I’ve been a Republican all my life, and I’m supporting Walt Minnick for Congress,” Sinclair says as the spot concludes.