End of primary election brings no relief from politics

You would think with the primary behind us and nearly six months before the general election that there would be a temporary end to political rhetoric and campaigning.
There is still some unfinished business. The primary results must be certified, a few races aren't yet decided, and the mistakes and screw-ups that happened May 2 need to be analyzed and investigated to make sure the next election runs smoother. Based on history, I doubt elections in Ohio will ever be problem-free.
Typically during this time of the year, candidates who won definitely in the primary concentrate on raising money and perhaps take a little vacation. The candidates usually return to the campaign trail in August.
Of course, there are exceptions.
What's a Fourth of July parade without some candy and a sweaty handshake from a candidate overdressed for the summer? Dark business suits, walking long distances on hot pavement and high temperatures don't mix. Also, the political party faithful expect candidates to come to their summer picnics overdressed for the season to provide sweaty handshakes for all in attendance.
But since 2004, the trend is to campaign year-round.
For example, between Saturday and Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, is participating in eight rallies across the state, including one at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the steps of the Mahoning County Common Pleas Courthouse. Strickland already visited Austintown earlier this week.
During the days after the primary, I've received e-mails from Democratic organizations on the state and national level criticizing Republicans. But I've received many more e-mails from Republicans attacking Democrats during the past few days.
The campaign of state Rep. Chuck Blasdel, the Republican nominee in the 6th Congressional District, is already focused on attempting to discredit state Sen. Charlie Wilson, the Democratic nominee in the race.
E-mails from the Blasdel campaign this week made fun of Wilson, trying to paint a pro-life candidate endorsed in the primary by the National Rifle Association as a liberal based on his campaign contributors.
The Blasdel campaign criticized Wilson for taking contributions from a political action committee run by U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in an e-mail cleverly titled, "Friends with Benefits." The term's most common meaning is two friends who have a sexual relationship with no emotional attachment.
The e-mail has a Bugs Bunny theme with Blasdel's campaign claiming Wilson is taking directions from Emanuel, and also that the DCCC spent $613,000 to help Wilson win the primary as a write-in candidate.
"Those wascally liberals jumped at the chance to help one of their own," the e-mail reads.
A day before sending that e-mail, the campaign sent one titled, "Charlie Wilson is [gasp!] a LIBERAL!"
This one criticizes Wilson for taking money from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is from "the liberal haven of San Francisco." As "South Park" fans know, Frisco also boasts the highest "smug level" in the country.
The e-mail says Pelosi voted numerous times to ease access to abortion, against lowering taxes, to cut military funding and is a liberal, as if the term is a dirty word.
The concept is Wilson took money from "liberals" thus making him one too. Never mind that a majority of the money for his campaign came from the candidate himself.
Wilson's campaign has sent nothing to the media since his victory last week. But the DCCC took a shot at Blasdel for his unpaid back taxes issue and the National Republican Congressional Committee for spending about $500,000 to discredit Wilson before the primary in e-mails.
Republicans are "scared, and they're desperate. Their dirty tactics are coming and we are ready," the DCCC e-mail reads.
It looks like it's going to be a long summer.