Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) on Monday fought back against suggestions that a controversial campaign ad he aired last October may have contributed to an overheated political culture that is being reexamined in light of the assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) that left her critically wounded and six dead in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday.

After finding himself unexpectedly trailing his Republican opponent John Raese as the campaign entered its final month, Manchin released a 30-second TV spot, which featured him literally shooting the federal cap-and-trade bill - an unpopular piece of legislation to which Raese had sought to link his Democratic opponent.

In the ad, a stone-faced Manchin is seen strutting toward the camera with a rifle in hand before loading his gun and aiming it. "I sued EPA, and I'll take dead aim at the cap-and-trade bill," Manchin said in the ad as he fired a single shot at a copy of the bill.

In a statement to RealClearPolitics, Manchin, who served as West Virginia's governor for six years before winning a special election to take over the seat once held by former Sen. Robert Byrd, defended his record and the ad itself.

"I've spent my whole career bringing people together, avoiding the rancor of partisan politics, and that will continue to be the focus of my work as U.S. Senator going forward," Manchin said in the statement. "The act of a deranged madman who commits a horrific act should not and cannot be confused with a metaphor about a piece of legislation."

In a conference call with reporters on Monday, however, he said he likely wouldn't release the ad today.

"I can't say that we would, I really can't," Manchin said. "Because it's a much more more sensitive thing we're dealing with right now."

When it was released in October, the ad titled "Dead Aim" was widely credited with helping to turn Manchin's campaign around and was praised by many political analysts for being one of the most effective TV spots to air during the 2010 midterms.

But on NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sunday, host David Gregory mentioned the Manchin ad as an example of what he called the "demonization of the other side" that occurs too frequently in American politics.

Gregory also cited to make his point the outburst from Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) during a 2009 speech that President Obama delivered to Congress on health care and the link that former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) drew between his Republican opponent and the Taliban.

"I mean, this kind of vitriol on both sides does contribute to that, that demonization," Gregory said.

But in his statement on Monday, Manchin drew a distinction between his own TV ad and political rhetoric that has been directed at specific politicians.

"I have never targeted an individual, and I never would," Manchin said. "This tragedy, I hope, serves as call for common sense, and wake-up call that we should all come together with common purpose to do what is best for our country."

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