DENVER -- Leading up to the November election, 7NEWS and TheDenverChannel.com will check the accuracy of political ads.

Do the ads contain facts or fiction?

7NEWS checks the "facts or fiction" of a political ad paid for by the campaign of Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., entitled: "Double Trouble."

AD: "I'm Michael Bennet and I approve this message. Have you seen Andrew Romanoff's ads about PAC money? Take a listen … (Clip from Romanoff Ad: 'I don't take a dime of their money.') Oh really? Career politician Romanoff's been taking PAC money for almost 10 years – from big banks, insurance companies, oil companies.

FACT: While serving as a state representative and Speaker of the House at the state Capitol, Romanoff did receive money from third party organizations known as Political Action Committees or PACs. On screen, a list of third parties is scrolled, representing PACs that contributed to Romanoff while a member of the state House of Representatives.

For example, from Oct. 26, 2006 through Nov. 30, 2006, Romanoff received contributions from:

Anadarko Petroleum Corp PAC: $400

CO Mortgage Lenders Assoc PAC: $400

Colorado Child Care Assoc PAC: $100

Enterprise Rent-A-Car PAC: $200

Marathon Oil Co. Employees PAC: $200

Powersport Dealers of CO PAC: $100

Wells Fargo State PAC: $200

Source: Colorado's Transparency in Contribution and Expenditure Reporting website, known as TRACER.

It's also important to note that Romanoff's claim in his own ad: "I don't take a dime of their money," is also FACT.

According to the Federal Election Commission online reporting database, Romanoff has received $0 from PACs during his campaign for U.S. Senate. As of June 30, 2010, Romanoff had received $1,593,819 from individual contributors and nothing from PACs.

In comparison, through June 30, 2010, Bennet had received $5,812,907 from individual contributions and $1,312,095 from PACs.

AD: "He's even run his own PAC while campaigning for Senate.

FACT, BUT MISLEADING: Romanoff registered a PAC entitled, "Romanoff Leadership Fund" on Sept. 13, 2004. According to the registration papers filed with the state, the purpose of the PAC was to "support Democratic candidates to Colorado General Assembly …" As of March 2008, the PAC was still contributing money to various Democratic candidates running for state representative, including current Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, Debbie Benefield, Joe Rice, John Kefalas, Gwen Green and Sara Gagliardi.

The PAC was still active and there was still a balance remaining when Romanoff announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in September. The PAC was terminated on Jan. 15, 2010. Between the time Romanoff announced his candidacy and when the PAC closed, the PAC didn't receive any money. The only money spent from the account was a charitable contribution to empty the account balance. On Dec. 30, 2009, the Fisher House Foundation received a contribution of $1,331 from the Romanoff Leadership Fund.

While it's a FACT that Romanoff ran his own PAC while campaigning for U.S. Senate, it's MISLEADING because there were no active contributions and the account was closed with the remaining money donated to charity.

Source: TRACER record of Romanoff Leadership Fund.

AD: (Clip from Romanoff ad: 'I don't take a dime of their money.' Sorry Andrew, now we know the truth."

FACT AND MISLEADING as stated above.