06 campaign just got a little uglier. Ehrlich hires Cleland swift-boater.

[nickshepDEM]

From the Baltimore Sun:

In the first major step toward building a campaign team, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has hired a political director whose major credit is the successful race he ran to unseat a former Georgia senator and crusading war veteran that has Democrats there still crying foul four years later.

Bo Harmon, a veteran of the National Republican Congressional Committee and other GOP organizations, as well as manager of Saxby Chambliss' campaign against then-Sen. Max Cleland, said yesterday that he is coming to Maryland to get the word out about Ehrlich's accomplishments.

Democrats here and in Georgia immediately criticized the hire, saying Ehrlich is bringing to Maryland a virtuoso of nastiness who attacked the patriotism of Cleland, an Army veteran who lost three limbs in Vietnam.

"Bo Harmon ran one of the most despicable campaigns in the history of Georgia, if not the nation," Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Bobby Kahn said in a statement.

"Senator Chambliss' campaign was the worst example of the politics of personal destruction, defaming the character of a man who gave up so much for his country in Vietnam," Kahn added. "If Bo Harmon was willing to do that in 2002 against an American war hero like Max Cleland, one can only imagine what he is likely to do in 2006."

Those of you familiar with the '02 Cleland vs Chambliss race... Could you fill me in on how nasty the campaign really was? What can we expect here in Maryland '06?

[aintitfunny]

1. What he gets away with in Georgia Will not

play in Baltimore, PG County, Montgomery County, Howard County. Cumberland may be a different matter, as well as Frederick, etc. We all must watch this carefully.

The headline alone was enough to make me gag. Very depressing, hard to believe that there are people out there lower than snake spit and that they actually have a place on the front lines.

[Frances]

2. He ran a TV ad where Max Cleland morphed into Osama

Max lost 3 limbs in Vietnam. His opponent dodged the draft during Vietnam. I've forgotten what excuse the opponent used.

It is hard to believe that Georgians would fall for something so lowdown dirty.

I hope that the Democrats are prepared for the dirty tactics.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. I expect nothing less of Nazi Bob and his sidekick

With Rove overtly part of Steele's campaign and now this, I am not in the least surprised.

These motherfuckers need to be stomped until they can no longer see up.

[Polecat]

4. Approach

Clearly his approach will have to differ from the GA Senate campaign. Promoting a Republican statewaide in GA is a lot different than statewide in MD. If he uses the same tactics, Ehrlich will get destroyed.

[DaveinMD]

5. Ehrlich

has brought Washington style partisan politics to Maryland. I expect a very nasty campaign.

[CBHagman]

6. Everything I read about Ehrlich...

...makes me want to drive him out of the governor's mansion and then fumigate the place. Vile, perfectly vile.

Such is the state of the GOP these days, even in Maryland.