Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Campaigns get dirty as candidates seek out the remaining delegates

By Jennifer Valentine

javalentine@vwc.edu

As the campaign trail is blazed this election year, the attacks are becoming more evident. Discussion among the candidates still centers around health care, the Iraq war and the economy.

After Thursday’s Democratic debate, discussion turned toward Cuban and U.S. relations. Both candidates would be willing to meet with Cuba’s president if they would be willing to improve U.S. relations and quality of life for Cubans. Sen. John McCain, in a statement not related to the debate, said he will not hope for any political reforms in Cuba until after Fidel Castro dies, according to cnn.com reports.

Clinton, who has lost the last 31 of 38 caucuses, must win both Texas and Ohio, both high in delegates, in order to pass Obama in the race for the democratic nomination. With such pressure for the nomination, the candidates are increasing media ads and mailers that espouse their vision. However, Clinton attacked Obama for negative campaign tactics used against her campaign.

“Shame on you, Barack Obama,” she said on Saturday, in reference to two mailers that his campaign distributed criticizing her health care plan and her stance on her husband’s North American Free Trade Agreement.

Obama, however, denies that there is anything false in the information.

Obama said he and his campaign would be treated differently if they had endured as many losses as Sen. Hillary Clinton. However, he understands the reasoning behind her perseverance in the race.

“I’m the challenger, the upstart,” he said. “She’s the champ. She’s part of the democratic network in Washinton.”

Republican candidate McCain is still the favored frontrunner over his opponent Sen. Mike Huckabee.

McCain, however, has been in the news for an alleged romantic relationship with a lobbyist. McCain has denied all reports and allegations, and conservative Republicans have rallied around him in support. This should help McCain’s cause, as he had previously been struggling to gain conservative support.