IN THE 4TH - More mysterious automated calls are being placed around the district. After calls were made telling voters to vote for anyone but Jeff Smith, the finger was quickly pointed at Derio Gambaro’s campaign, mostly due to the exchange of negative mailers he and Smith engaged in recent days.
But now calls are going north attacking Amber Boykins‘ legislative record and closing with “so vote for Jeff Smith.” Both Smith and Gambaro have denied having anything to do with these calls. And considering who they attack and who they may effectively help, fingers are now pointing at the campaign of Yaphett El-Amin. She has also denied involvement.
We also have unconfirmed reports of pro-El-Amin robo calls being made with personal messages from former Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr. (which makes sense seeing as he is a vocal supporter of El-Amin) and another one with the voice of former U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan (which is harder to believe, but then again maybe she saw Jeff Smith’s movie in which her son is basically characterized as a lazy mama’s boy).
[UPDATE: Congressman Russ Carnahan has issued a statement on his website which says that neither he nor any member of his family is supporting any candidate in this race. Click here to read the full statement.]
IN THE 60TH - Things are getting downright nasty in this state rep race. Sharon Tyus has dropped two attack pieces on Jamilah Nasheed contrasting, among other things, her Christian background with Nasheed’s Islamic faith.
Nasheed is also drawing criticism from some for yard signs asking voters in the district to punch #38 Tuesday if they support livable wages. That is of course her punch number, but — except for a tiny “paid for by” disclaimer — her name is not visible on the sign.
Meanwhile, Shaun Simms dropped a piece listing U.S. Senate Candidate Claire McCaskill among his supporters. It even has a picture of Simms with McCaskill along with Sen. Barack Obama and Simms’ wife, the current 60th Rep, Amber Boykins. The photo appears to have been taken when Obama was in town in support of McCaskill.
A quick call to McCaskill’s headquarters confirms what most would expect, the State Auditor is staying as far out of these Democratic primary fights as possible. She has endorsed no one.
UPDATE 2: IN THE 72ND - The state rep rematch between incumbent Maria Chappelle Nadal and Sandra Colquitt is among the nastiest in the region. Count this one among the races mostly likely to get physical Tuesday. A mysterious and unaccredited website (www.colquittunfit.com) has popped up attacking Colquitt using clips from The Lizz Brown Show, The Arch City Chronicle and The Post-Dispatch.
August 6th, 2006 at 7:04 pm
The Senator Jean Carnahan call is for her son Congressman Russ Carnahan.
She supports her son… who would have thought?
August 6th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
Naturally Senator Carnahan is calling for her son. To even imply otherwise is purposely misleading. Of course El-Amin is behind the robo calls attacking Smith and Boykins. She’s already on record, with a radio ad attacking Boykins’ voting record. Interesting enough, these attacks against her challengers only cement my not voting for her. Look at the school board elections, the attack on Peter Downs backfired.
August 6th, 2006 at 10:32 pm
It would make most sense if candidate El-Amin was behind the negative calls. She is the queen of negative political ploys. She should have left well enough alone without attacking candidate Boykins, which makes it clear that the attacks are coming from candidate El-Amin. Before this we assumed they were coming from candidate Gambaro. I’d like to appologize to candidate Gambaro for making that assumption and being fooled by candidate El-Amin’s dirty tricks.
August 6th, 2006 at 10:43 pm
Calls from Bosley will make certain no one votes for El-Amin.
August 7th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Travis,
I wouldn’t be so quick to apologize to Gambaro. Trust me, plenty of this slime has been coming from him.
It’s amazing that candidate El Amin has avoided taking any negative hits thus far given that she has a more sketchy background than anyone else in this race and is right up there with Gambaro for the shameful way she has conducted herself. I give Smith and Boykins credit for running clean campaigns. This is certainly rare in todays politics but from an entertainment perspective its a shame that they left the El Amin’s scandals alone. No deception needed in the El Amin’s case…
August 7th, 2006 at 6:07 am
The El-Amins are the same old corrupt, crooked politicians that have been robbing from black folks for years. They are in politics to help the El-Amins and their rich friends, not the people they represent.
Yaphett doesn’t even bother to put a “Paid for” statement on campaign literature that has her picture on it. They have complete disregard for the law. No one ever found out who paid for the “known Caucasian” poll. Mr. El Amin doesn’t even think he has to pay child support (that’s the lowest type of scoundrel out there).
Some should ask, who has benefited from the El Amin’s leadership. Looks to me like the answer is the El Amins and their friends, and no one else.
Vote for El-Amin and get the same corrupt leadership that has been screwing the city for generations.
August 7th, 2006 at 7:06 am
It is uy, were are the midnight pranksters.
My team of political anarchists have been practicing our accents.
We are done with the one party system.
Henceforth, disinformation shall flow like water from Moses’ rock.
These candidates need to learn how to run a negative campaign.
We will show them how.
August 7th, 2006 at 8:33 am
Regarding the Boykins and Simms camps’ endorsements, I’ve been told by one Alderman who they claim to be supporting them that he never gave such an endorsement. It looks to be standard operating procedure for candidates Boykins and Simms to make-up endorsements, some of which are blatantly obvious.
In the 60th, it is just as divisive for a candidate to cast aspersions on another because of religious practice as it was for candidate El-Amin in the 4th district senate campaign to divide the residents on issues of race.
Also, I think it was a swift move on candidate Nasheed’s part to employ signs that focus on the issues she supports, rather than name recognition or image. I can envision campaigns in the future using a series of issue focused signs. Great idea!