Hoffa: Diego is qualified to be governor

MATTINOW, Damoign--Conservative Governor Sid Hoffa pushed back at critics of his deputy, Mercer Diego (C), who claim the lieutenant governor is not adequately qualified for the state's top executive job.

Last week, Damoign Attorney General Rod Penora, who is the NAT's nominee for governor, accused Diego of being "the least-qualified candidate for governor in Damoign history."

In an interview with the Central Coast Post on Thursday, Penora highlighted the only political office Diego has ever held--the lieutenant governorship.

"He's only been lieutenant governor for not even four years. He's never served in the state legislature. He's never been a mayor, a city councilman, he's never been a CEO or a business leader or a statesman. He has no experience, besides serving as Sid Hoffa's pet for the last three plus years," Penora said.

The Nationalist Governors' Association (NATGA) also released a 30-second TV ad that depicts Diego as a radical religious conservative whose only claim to fame is being a mega-church pastor and lieutenant governor.

But Sid Hoffa defended Diego in an appearance on the GBC's Sunday Tea, telling host John Hockney that Diego is "more than prepared" to be governor.

"I've worked with Mercer for the past almost four years. I've known him for years. And let me tell you, he is a great man. He is a family man. He is dedicated to his family, to his church, to his state, to protecting our most vulnerable people, to fixing the economy and getting jobs back here in Damoign, to defending our state against terrorism and getting crime off our streets. Mercer Diego is prepared, he's tested, and he has the courage for the job," Hoffa said.

Hoffa, who also chairs the Conservative Governors' Association (CGA), acknowledged that Diego has little political experience. But he emphatically denied that Diego is unprepared.

"He doesn't have a lot of political experience, I'll give you that, John. He doesn't have an extensive legislative record or a deep political history like other candidates. But I think that's a good thing. It shows that he's a real person. He's not a bureaucrat like Rod Penora, who has been stuck in the politics of Mattinow for his entire career."

"You know, Rod Penora has been a politician his entire adult life. He's been involved in Nationalist machine politics for about twenty five years. You know how long Mercer Diego has been a politician? For less than four years. He's done other things with his life. He is an economist by trade, he has worked in business, and then he felt the call to be a pastor, and he has served in charity positions and church positions throughout much of his career. And I think we could use someone with that background right now in our current political climate, don't you?" Hoffa said.

Diego is facing off against Penora in what is expected to be one of the most closely-watched gubernatorial races in the country.

Together, the two have raised more than $23 million, although Penora has raised about $4 million more than Diego.

Penora, who is known for his bare-knuckled-style politics, is heavily favored in the inner-city areas of Grassadellia City and further downstate in Vicksburg and Crowderville.

Diego has the edge in the suburbs of the Merryton Valley, as well as in more traditionally conservative areas like the state's capital city, Mattinow, and West Lake and Olean in the state's western reaches.

Both men will also appear on the ballot with Libertarian candidate Craig Robinson, who is polling around two to three percent in most recent polls.

Kalnier Lt. Gov. compares Conservatives to Nazis

APPENBAUM, Kalnier--Conservative lawmakers are like Nazis, Kalnier Lt. Gov. Paul Myrick (N) told reporters Monday afternoon.

Myrick made the controversial comparison in an afternoon press conference, when he was venting his frustration at Conservative members of the state legislature for obstructing a gun control bill he and fellow Nationalists support.

"[Conservatives] are like Nazis. They have their own propaganda they put out. They have a ruthless attitude toward members of other parties, and they have a radical, oppressive agenda that they want to advance at an enormous cost to those around them," Myrick said.

Conservative Senate Minority Leader Dale Reichen immediately condemned Myrick's comments, calling them "heinous" and "incredibly disproportionate."

In an interview with a local television station, Reichen said it was "disturbing" that "when the Nationalist Party does not get its way, its leaders resort to calling Conservatives 'Nazis.'"

A spokesperson for Myrick's office later said he did not mean stir up a controversy, but he would not retract his comments.

The bill at the center of the controversy is a bill proposed by Nationalists, that would require gun owners to attend annual gun safety courses in order to obtain and maintain a concealed weapons permit.

Nationalists say it forces gun owners to think about safety, while Conservatives say its a needless regulation that serves little purpose and allows government to extend too far.

Both Myrick and his boss, Governor Karen DeSalle (N), support the bill.

Xhi stumps for Andres

HENOTIA, Harvannah--Lieutenant Governor Mia Xhi (N) spent the weekend stumping for her ally, Governor Mark Andres (N).

Xhi faces a relatively easy bid for re-election against Clevey Springs Mayor Todd Kren (C), and therefore will devote some time to campaigning for her counterpart in the governor's office, who is facing a difficult fight for re-election against Harrisport Mayor George Garesby.

Xhi spent the weekend in western Harvannah, first speaking to a group of mothers in Henotia on Friday, and later speaking to union members in Harlyne.

"I fully support Mark Andres for governor," Xhi said in Henotia. "If you want to see progress, if you want to see equality and social justice, you need to vote for Mark Andres."

In Harlyne, she spoke of the governor's record of supporting unions.

"Mark has worked to strengthen our unions in this state, and he's not stopping now. He opposes the school overseer initiative that's on the ballot this November because he knows it will only weaken unions," Xhi said.

She also sought to cast Conservative candidate George Garesby as an opponent of progressive values.

"The other side wants to take us backward. Whether it's women's health, science, the environment, education, unionization, the economy, taxes...you name it, they're on the wrong side."

Andres spent his weekend campaigning also, spending Saturday in Flag Harbor, talking about imports and exports.

Garesby was campaigning in Scandinaugh and Adams Counties this weekend, speaking to firefighters, and to homeowners about water rights.

Xhi's CNS opponent, Todd Kren, took the weekend off from campaigning.

The latest Harlyne Sun/WAHL-TV poll conducted last week showed Xhi with 57% to Kren's 42%.

That same poll found Andres and Garesby with 49% each.

Actors in pro-Andres commercial don't live in Harvannah

CLEVEY SPRINGS, Harvannah--Conservatives have filed a complaint with the Harvannah Secretary of State's office regarding a political advertisement put out by the campaign of incumbent Gov. Mark Andres (N).

The 30-second television advertisement, which began airing on stations state-wide last week, features 14 different people, of different races, genders and backgrounds.

One woman in the ad says, "We are Harvannans."

"And we support Mark Andres," another says.

The only problem: four of the people that appear in the ad are not actual residents of Harvannah.

The state Conservative Party filed a complaint, calling the ad "misleading" and "deceptive."

The Andres campaign acknowledged Monday that the four people in question do not reside in Harvannah.

One man who appears in the ad is actually Andres' cousin, who lives in Armana.

Three women, including two Hispanics, voice their support for Andres in the commercial, but actually live in Damoign, the campaign confirmed.

It's unclear how the three women in question became included in the commercial.

A spokesman for the Andres campaign told the Harlyne Sun he believed the women were acquaintances of campaign staff members, but did not know for sure.

As for the governor's cousin, the campaign has no regrets about using him.

"The governor's cousin, Bill Wenson, lives in Armana. But he deeply supports his cousin Mark Andres, and he wanted to be apart of the campaign and apart of the commercial, and we felt that was an appropriate way for him to be involved," spokesman Jared Welsh said.

The complaint filed by the state Conservative Party will be heard by the state's election commission and Secretary of State Jennifer Giorchani. The commission and Giorchani will deliver a joint ruling within the week, a spokeswoman for the Secretary of State's office said.