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| 3/19/2010 11:17:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | House candidates clash over 'tracker'
Warrensburg - Rep. Denny Hoskins denied his campaign employs a "tracker" to follow Democratic opponent Courtney Cole.
A representative of Show Me Progress, a pro-Democrat Web site, took photos and interviewed a man Wednesday who refused to give his name or state. But the man said he worked as a tracker and has "been working in politics for a while."
A tracker is a person who follows candidates, sometimes capturing images of them in unflattering moments - perhaps with eyes closed and mouths open - for use in opposing campaign advertisements.
The photos and conversation recorded Wednesday with the self-identified tracker occurred outside former Rep. Deleta Williams' house. Williams held a fund-raiser for Cole that included a U.S. Senate candidate, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.
Hoskins said campaigns employ trackers who follow candidates including Carnahan, U.S. Reps. Ike Skelton and Roy Blunt, and Vicky Hartzler. But he said his campaign did not hire a tracker.
"My campaign's not paying for any service like that, nor would we," Hoskins said, and later added, "I've had people go through my trash at home."
The tracker outside Williams' house never stated he worked for Hoskins.
Chris Moreno, Missouri House Democratic Campaign Committee executive director, said if the tracker does not work for Hoskins directly, then the man must work for the Republican Party.
Cole said she is relieved to know the tracker is a political operative because she feared someone stalked her.
"It's a shame that Denny has stooped to having someone follow me with a camera. I think filming me in front of my home at night, following me to my daughter's dance classes at Center Stage, and now being caught at Deleta's home, is the kind of politics that we in Johnson County are tired of," Cole said.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, March 28, 2010
Article comment by:
alwaysfiredup
Let's not get too paranoid here. Vicky Hartzler is a serious candidate for office and welcomes the Fourth District to examine her record and listen to her speeches. She is always a class act. Check her out at www. vickyhartzler.com
Posted: Monday, March 22, 2010
Article comment by:
Harry S. Fremont
Did the editor interview candidate Vicky Hartzler about how it feels to have Ms. Cole's supporters stalking her? Seems to be a valid question for the editor to ask Ms. Cole. Maybe Show Me Progress could help the editor again.
Posted: Monday, March 22, 2010
Article comment by:
Harry S. Fremont
Ms. Cole, Ms. Carnahan and Chris Moreno are not calling for the MO Democrat Party to stop stalking Vicky Hartzler as she runs for Representive. This is another case of Big Government politicians saying one thing and doing another. Do we really need more Big Govt Politicans in Jefferson City and Washington DC?
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