Paul, Babe Ads Rankle Bemidji Leaders [VIDEO]

BEMIDJI (AP) - The creative people promoting Minnesota's new health care exchange turned to humorous ads featuring Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, taking some pratfalls.

But the ads aren't going over so well in northern Minnesota, where some city leaders in Bemidji see them as making fun of a treasured icon.

Mayor Rita Albrecht says she thinks some of the images used in the ads are offensive.

The MNsure ads feature Bemidji's Paul Bunyan statue getting into various dilemmas, such as a water skiing accident and woodpeckers attacking his head.

Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce president Lori Paris says having Paul running into a tree and falling over "just looks foolish."

The $9 million marketing campaign is titled "Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Reasons to Get Health Insurance."