First Reports of Dirty Tricks in Campaign '08

Josh Earnest, a spokesman for Obama, criticized the calls.

"Negative campaign tactics like push polls don't reflect the values that are at the core of the Democratic Party and the Iowa caucuses," he said.

An aide to Edwards, Dan Leistikow, denounced what he said were "underhanded, despicable" political attacks.

Throughout American history -- sadly -- various kinds of dirty tricks have been employed to try to help a candidate get into office. Now comes the first word of such dirty tricks in Iowa. Voters are being called at home in so-called push-polling in which persons are asked leading questions. The caller then goes on to offer some kind of negative information about one or more candidates. Other tactics being employed appear designed to suppress voter turn-out, such as mentioning a popular football game being shown on TV the night of the Iowa caucuses.

Such tactics are disgusting. Fortunately, there is a bill pending in the Senate which may address some of the concerns.

For more information on this issue, follow the link to The Washington Post below. (Registration may be required.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/31/AR2007123101280.html