10/08/2006 03:58:51 AM EDTSunday, October 08 BOSTON  Gubernatorial candidate Kerry Healey didn't know what hit her when a group called the Patriot Majority Fund released a negative ad about her last month. Neither did voters, thanks to a loophole in the local campaign finance law that allows independent issue advocacy groups to operate with little oversight. The group, funded by labor and Democrat organizations, was able to attack Healey as long as it never asked viewers to vote for or defeat a specific candidate. "They can put millions of dollars into advertisements or mass communications which promote or oppose candidacy, and so long as they don't use those magic words 'vote' or 'election,' they're not tied to local campaign finance laws," said Pam Wilmot, executive director for Common Cause, a nonpartisan organization meant to ensure open government. Republicans hit back with their own issues-based advertisement two weeks ago, touting Healey's hard work for the state and encouraging viewers to keep a Republican in the corner office. More issue-based ads are expected to come fast and furious as the gubernatorial race nears the homestretch, according to Republican political consultant Dominick Ianno. "I suspect we'll see a lot of activity on both sides before this election is over," Ianno said. The groups who put out the advertisements, named 527s after the section they file with the IRS, receive tax-exempt status as political committees and don't have to file with federal or state political finance committees.Advertisement