GOP attack wars heat up

It didn’t take long for the GOP gubernatorial race and the special interests to launch the ad wars over who should be the standard bearer for the Republicans in the August primary.

Last week, the campaign of Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard became the target of a nonprofit organization’s criticisms with a billboard and website. The billboard, located on the high traffic area of I-75 in Auburn Hills, directs people to the website OaklandSheriff.net. There, the viewer is treated to criticisms of Bouchard involving his management style, spending and issues at the county jail. Most damning, is a transcript from a deposition in which Bouchard walks out without discussing an alleged affair.

The website and bill board are produced by The Michigan Civic Education Fund, a political nonprofit group, reports the Oakland Press.

And Bouchard’s team is not happy with the attacks. The Oakland Press spoke with Ted Prill, Bouchard’s campaign manager:

“I think it’s sad this kind of tactic is being employed,” Prill said Friday. “This is the kind of gutter politics that has been going on for years, and it seems no one wants to get away from it. I don’t think there’s any other way to interpret it.

“Whoever put this up is willfully trying to mislead anyone who goes to the Web site or sees the billboard,” Prill said. “It’s this kind of gutter politics that has taken the state where it is now. It’s still gutter politics.”

The Michigan Civic Education Fund was created in November, the Press reports, and one of the groups organizers is a donor to the Mike Cox for Governor campaign.

Meanwhile, Rick Snyder is being targeted with robocalls.

Those calls tell the listener about a lawsuit against Rick Snyder from his time as CEO of Gateway computers.

Hello,

I’m calling to inform you about gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder. As a former board member and CEO of Gateway Computers, Rick Snyder shipped thousands of American jobs overseas, putting his American employees out of work. Rick Snyder is being sued by his former Gateway customers for selling them extended service warranties on their computers and then transferring those warranties to an insolvent company. Those customers, many of whom are struggling college students, now can’t fix their computers while Rick Snyder made millions from these deals.

To learn more about Rick Snyder’s profiting from lost American jobs and worthless extended computer warranties, please visit www.ripoffrick.com. That is www.ripoffrick.com.

Thank you.

The robocalls were paid for by Joe Munem, a Republican operative and one of the two Joe’s in TwoGuysNamedJoe.net.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Mike Cox, who is considered the front runner for the GOP nomination, has also been hit with negative campaign material. Jason Vorva, a Michigan native now living in Massachusetts, sent postcards to top GOP officials, activists and the media in November comparing Cox to embattled South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

The front of the card reads, “greetings from Argentina.” MLive.com reports the back of the postcard reads:

Things were lonely at the South Carolina Governor’s mansion, so I took off back to Argentina to see my soul mate. I just wanted to let you know that I am endorsing Mike Cox for your next Governor! I see him as a kindred spirit..a guy who knows what he wants and goes out and gets it!

From the Courthouse to the Mansion, Mike Cox is a man of action! So-join me in supporting him as your next governor!! Best Wishes from the Beach!

Mark Sanford, South Carolina Governor

Sanford has admitted to having an affair with a woman from Argentina.