Dirty tricks continue against lieutenant governor candidate

It appears Republican operatives may be involved in sabotage in Democratic primaries, according to lieutenant governor candidate Sam Page. The following news release was issued this afternoon by the Page campaign:

Robo-calls pretending to be in support of Sam Page are calling Missourians in the middle of the night, as much as nine times to the same number. Rep. Sam Page, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, warned about the continued dirty tricks. He asks Missourians not to be fooled and to warn their friends.

The law does not require that taped telephone messages be identified by the sender, as are publications, radio and television ads.

"This allows cowards to hide and this is why voters are losing faith in our electoral system," Page said. "I apologize to all who are the victims of this hoax."

Page said his campaign staff has received several call at his campaign headquarters about the counterfeit pro-Page robo-calls. The calls pretend to support Page's candidacy, but at 3:00 a.m., they obviously anger voters.

Page said that at this late date, he must rely on the electronic media to alert the public. This dirty game is played now because there is no time, without the electronic media's help, to expose this crime before Tuesday's election.

Last week, unidentified robo-calls attacking Page began showing up on the answering machines of Missouri voters. Media reports have suggested that those calls are coming from Page's Republican opponent.

"A dear Republican friend called to apologize," Page said. "He assured me that this isn't the real Republican Party; unfortunately the dirty-trick wing has taken control, but not for too much longer.

"I hope that is true," Page said. "This kind of corruption could bring down a great civilization."