DETROIT (WWJ) - Michigan Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Pete Hoekstra is taking a hit in a new poll just weeks after his controversial Super Bowl ad that attacked Democrat, Senator Debbie Stabenow.

Newsradio 950′s Stephanie Davis reports that the commercial has come under scrutiny raising questions of racism and xenophobia.

The commercial featured a Chinese woman using broken English thanking Senator Debbie Stabenow for U.S. overspending calling her Debbie Spend-it-now.

But critics called the ad demeaning and racists.  Stabenow called it unfortunate and now she has her biggest lead over Hoesktra. A new Public Policy poll shows Stabenow with a 14-point lead among likely voters.

Among those familiar with Hoekstra’s ad, 45% said it made them less likely to vote for him.