Seeking Edge on GOP, Democrats Back Third Parties

[Elmore Furth]

Here is a quasi-dirty trick strategy.

By JIM RUTENBERG
Published: October 22, 2010

ORLANDO, Fla. — Seeking any slight advantage in their effort to avoid losing control of Congress, Democrats are working behind the scenes in a number of tight races to bolster long-shot, third-party candidates who have platforms at odds with the Democratic agenda but hold the promise of siphoning Republican votes.

The efforts are taking place across the country with varying degrees of stealth. And in many cases, they seem to hold as much risk as potential reward for Democrats, prompting accusations of hypocrisy and dirty tricks from Republicans and the third-party movements that are on the receiving end of the unlikely, and sometimes unwelcome, support.

In California, Republicans have received recorded phone calls from a self-proclaimed but unidentified “registered Republican” who says she is voting for the American Independent Party’s candidate for a House seat, Bill Lussenheide, not for the incumbent Republican, Representative Mary Bono Mack. The caller says she is voting that way because “it’s time we show Washington what a true conservative looks like.”

The recording was openly paid for by the Democratic candidate for the seat, Mayor Steve Pougnet of Palm Springs.


Seeking Edge on G.O.P., Democrats Back Third Parties

[David__77]

1. There's no such thing as "fighting dirty."

Winning and wielding political power is what counts.