Fighting Over Liddy Dole

Apparently Rob Ryan and the John Spencer campaign team have hit a nerve.

Morgan Ortagus, KT McFarland's usually mild-mannered and sweet-natured spokeswoman, just sent Ryan an angry letter accusing the Spencer campaign of falsely claiming the support of National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Elizabeth Dole. Here's are a couple of samples:

"The fact that he needs to pretend he has Mrs. Dole's support is a little sad, frankly."
"Trying to gain advantage in the Republican Primary by spreading falsehoods--wrongly using the good name of a prominent and respected U.S. Senator in the process--only belittles your candidate. It makes him look small. Please stop doing it."

The NRSC folks must be thrilled.

(Full text after the jump.)

--Jason Horowitz

August 2, 2006

Mr. Robert Ryan Spencer for Senate P.O. Box 864 Yonkers, NY 10702

Dear Mr. Ryan, I am writing to respectfully request that your candidate and his campaign aides stop dropping Elizabeth Dole's name all over the state. As you well know, Mrs. Dole, who heads the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), has not endorsed Mr. Spencer in this race, and it is unbecoming and disingenuous of Mr. Spencer to keep suggesting otherwise. The fact that he needs to pretend he has Mrs. Dole's support is a little sad, frankly. The NRSC has a long standing policy of not taking sides in Republican primaries. I have spoken with the Communications Director at the NRSC on more than one occasion to confirm that these reports coming from your campaign are untrue, and Rich Galen, a member our campaign team, has spoken with Senator Dole directly about this matter. We were assured in the clearest possible terms that Senator Dole has not endorsed Mr. Spencer, nor will she be making a primary endorsement. That is a matter of strict NRSC policy.

Trying to gain advantage in the Republican Primary by spreading falsehoods--wrongly using the good name of a prominent and respected U.S. Senator in the process--only belittles your candidate. It makes him look small. Please stop doing it. The NRSC and Senator Dole will not take sides in this primary election. Period. I respectfully ask that you, your staff, candidate and volunteers please stop spreading these untruths. Sincerely, Morgan Ortagus

c.c. Members of the Media

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Comments
Post a comment

Anonymous says:

Spencer's been saying that for months. It's about time he got challenged on it.

Meade Esposito (not verified) says:

Where is Pierre Rinfret, may he rest in peace, when we need him?

Anonymous says:

Word on the street is Morgan is very connected at NRSC and spoke with them about it before she wrote the letter, and they had her full approval. She was justified, Spencer shouldn't lie about such petty things.

Yoda (not verified) says:

They consider a plus to have the support of Libby Dole?

Anonymous says:

Another embarrassment for Spencer.

Anonymous says:

Where is Spencer's campaign? We hear nothing from it.

in the know (not verified) says:

they got caught, that's why they aren't saying anything, and if you call the NRSC up, they will back up Morgan

Anonymous says:

Spencer is such a dishonest dog.

neversleep (not verified) says:

Yawn.

I can hardly contain myself when I consider this hard fought fight to get embarrassed in the polls come November.

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