The Democratic candidate for the District 13 House seat—the race is the most competitive in the area—went after incumbent GOP Rep. Eddie Smith today, saying bizarre mailings, which include references to the recent pulpy rumors that evil clowns lurk among us, targeting Johnson are over the top and dishonest.

Both camps referred to the other as desperate. Johnson is hoping to beat Smith to reclaim her seat, which she narrowly lost in the midterm election of 2014.

“These special interest smears against our campaign are sign of desperation because they know our message of investing in schools, making health care more affordable and strengthening the middle class is winning,” Johnson says in a statement. “Eddie Smith should tell his big money friends to pack up their dirty tricks and get out of Knoxville. Volunteer families don’t want elections bought by special interests, they want fair elections and clean campaigning.”

Johnson condemned both TV spots and the mailer, which morphs Johnson’s face into one of the purported “creepy clowns” and alleges a “radical agenda” and references supposed actions by Johnson to allow food stamp use for questionable purchases. It includes multiple uses of the word “liberal” and alleges she voted against a balanced budget. It is a constitutional requirement that the currently heavily GOP-controlled Legislature approve a balanced budget.

One of the ad sponsors is a group called Tennesseans for Student Success, which lists “school choice” among its goals. “Tennesseans for Student Success claims to be an education focused non-profit but they have spent tremendous resources launching negative attacks that have nothing to do with education,” Johnson says.

Smith says the ads are indeed provided by “outside groups” — but the mailer says it was paid for by the Tennessee Republican Party.