Bitter attacks fuel tense campaign
LANAKIS--The bitter primary campaign for the Senate in Veroche has been taken to a new level, after Conservative candidate Talley O'Neil accused her opponent, incumbent Senator Niles Gilcrest, of being a "closet Nationalist."
O'Neil, who is locked in a tense race with the much more moderate Gilcrest, made the comments at a campaign stop Friday in east Lanakis.
"Senator Gilcrest is either a closet Nationalist or a spineless Conservative, because based on his voting record, it's clear he doesn't stand with our party," O'Neil told her supporters, many of whom were laughing and applauding.
O'Neil has taken issue with Gilcrest's support for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq, climate change legislation, and the economic stimulus package, which passed both houses of Congress last month.
Mrs. O'Neil, the wife of Congressman Rich O'Neil, is more outspoken than her more reserved husband. However, she insists she's not aiming to be a vocal critic.
"This isn't about attracting attention, it's not about belittling Senator Gilcrest, it's not about becoming a star within my party, it's just simply about change. I've traveled all around Veroche, and all across this state, everywhere I go, people tell me they just want someone to stand up to the tax-and-spend liberals. And it's not just Nationalists, it's Conservatives too. And unfortunately, Senator Gilcrest is one of those Conservatives that is either supportive of these policies, or unmotivated to do anything to stop them from taking effect," O'Neil told Lake City Living magazine on Tuesday.
The Gilcrest campaign does not buy Mrs. O'Neil's claims of decency, pointing to her "mean-spirited" attacks against the senator.
"She's not interested in talking about the issues, she's not interested in change. She's just interested in bashing Senator Gilcrest and tearing down his character," campaign spokesman Todd Walin told GBC Radio.
Following O'Neil's latest attack, Gilcrest's campaign released a more firm response.
"Talley O'Neil's latest attacks on Niles Gilcrest are reprehensible. Senator Gilcrest is not a 'closet Nationalist.' He is and always has been a devoted, true Conservative. Just because he does not fit into Talley O'Neil's narrow-minded definition of 'conservative' does not mean he is not committed to his party and the principles it stands for. Talley O'Neil's questioning of Senator Gilcrest's allegiance is deplorable and offensive not only to the senator but to his supporters and the people of Veroche," the campaign said in a written statement.
Sources for national Conservatives say privately that top party officials are appalled at the lack of civility in the campaign and are quietly urging a more peaceful competition. However, a spokesman for CNS party Chairman Bob Viacrosa declined to comment on any potential actions the chairman may take to calm the situation.
LANAKIS--The bitter primary campaign for the Senate in Veroche has been taken to a new level, after Conservative candidate Talley O'Neil accused her opponent, incumbent Senator Niles Gilcrest, of being a "closet Nationalist."
O'Neil, who is locked in a tense race with the much more moderate Gilcrest, made the comments at a campaign stop Friday in east Lanakis.
"Senator Gilcrest is either a closet Nationalist or a spineless Conservative, because based on his voting record, it's clear he doesn't stand with our party," O'Neil told her supporters, many of whom were laughing and applauding.
O'Neil has taken issue with Gilcrest's support for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq, climate change legislation, and the economic stimulus package, which passed both houses of Congress last month.
Mrs. O'Neil, the wife of Congressman Rich O'Neil, is more outspoken than her more reserved husband. However, she insists she's not aiming to be a vocal critic.
"This isn't about attracting attention, it's not about belittling Senator Gilcrest, it's not about becoming a star within my party, it's just simply about change. I've traveled all around Veroche, and all across this state, everywhere I go, people tell me they just want someone to stand up to the tax-and-spend liberals. And it's not just Nationalists, it's Conservatives too. And unfortunately, Senator Gilcrest is one of those Conservatives that is either supportive of these policies, or unmotivated to do anything to stop them from taking effect," O'Neil told Lake City Living magazine on Tuesday.
The Gilcrest campaign does not buy Mrs. O'Neil's claims of decency, pointing to her "mean-spirited" attacks against the senator.
"She's not interested in talking about the issues, she's not interested in change. She's just interested in bashing Senator Gilcrest and tearing down his character," campaign spokesman Todd Walin told GBC Radio.
Following O'Neil's latest attack, Gilcrest's campaign released a more firm response.
"Talley O'Neil's latest attacks on Niles Gilcrest are reprehensible. Senator Gilcrest is not a 'closet Nationalist.' He is and always has been a devoted, true Conservative. Just because he does not fit into Talley O'Neil's narrow-minded definition of 'conservative' does not mean he is not committed to his party and the principles it stands for. Talley O'Neil's questioning of Senator Gilcrest's allegiance is deplorable and offensive not only to the senator but to his supporters and the people of Veroche," the campaign said in a written statement.
Sources for national Conservatives say privately that top party officials are appalled at the lack of civility in the campaign and are quietly urging a more peaceful competition. However, a spokesman for CNS party Chairman Bob Viacrosa declined to comment on any potential actions the chairman may take to calm the situation.
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