McCain isn’t the only trailing Republican candidate whose campaign tactics are getting increasingly nasty. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota is giving him a run for his money. Months back I observed how eerily similar Madia’s campaign against Paulsen is to Obama’s against McCain’s. A week ago Amardeep followed up with more nastiness. And now the s*it gets deeper:

While Republican Party representatives took heat this week for claiming in fliers that DFL candidate Ashwin Madia had the “wrong demographics” to serve the people of the 3rd Congressional District, they got off lightly with respect to the not-so-veiled undercurrent in their attack on Madia’s “lifestyle.” By larding in mentions of Madia’s household (he’s a renter, not an owner) and his hobbies (he’s not a soccer coach), the tacit insinuation that Madia must be gay is made easier to politely ignore. But it appears to be the real payload behind GOP efforts to point out Madia’s purported, um, difference from the stolid homesteaders of the 3rd District.

“Gutter politics are a gross insult to the good people of our district,” Rep. Jim Ramstad said Tuesday while praising Republican candidate Erik Paulsen for upholding of the “proud tradition of clean politics and ethical campaigns.” But as history demonstrates, there is a long and unadmirable record of flogging a political opponent’s unmarried status as a genteel means of throwing the race into the gutter. And since no accusation is ever actually made, the implication is not really susceptible to rebuttal. It just hangs out there with a wink. [link]

<

p>Got that? Not only is Paulsen’s campaign implying that he is “the wrong demographic” (ethnically) but now they are hinting that because he is ~30 and single he might be gay. Geez, and you thought desi parents were the ones putting on the marriage pressure! Now for some good news. SurveyUSA and DNCC internal polling shows that Madia may actually be up on Paulsen. The expected high Democratic turnout may further boost Madia via the coattail effect:

SurveyUSA (10/6-7, likely voters, 8/26-28 in parens):

Ashwin Madia (D): 46 (41)
Erik Paulsen (R): 43 (44)
David Dillon (IP): 8
(MoE: ±4%)

These numbers aren’t far off from a recent DCCC internal poll showing Madia leading by 44-39. SUSA still seems to have a questionably GOP-tilted sample of young voters (they break for Paulsen by a 51-40 margin in this poll), but that might be offset by a possibly-skewed 53-38 Madia lead among 50-to-64 year-olds. [Link]

There is much reason to be optimistic of Madia’s chances at this point. Late this afternoon WashPo reported about several Republican pollsters who are now predicting a, and I quote, “bloodbath.” An even better indication that Madia has a great chance is by taking a look at the company he has been keeping recently. Lot’s of Dem bigwigs have been showing up:

The Madia campaign had a roundtable event for small-business owners scheduled this afternoon and a Tuesday morning plant tour with visiting U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., who serves as Democratic Caucus chair in the U.S. House of Representatives — this coming on the heels of visits over the past few days from Sen. Ross Feingold (D-Wis.) and U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). [Link]

You know what makes me most excited about this campaign though? Check out this SOUTH ASIAN AMERICAN action:

Around the time of the DCCC poll, Madia was getting some other good news: the Maryland-based Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PIKPAC) gave him its endorsement. PIKPAC encouraged Pakistani-Americans in the 3rd District to get out the vote and contribute to Madia’s campaign, but with voters of South Asian background in short supply in the West Metro congressional district, PIKPAC’s Web page for donating to Madia may have the greater impact. According to SAJA Forum, Madia would be only the third person of South Asian descent to be elected to congress — after Dalip Singh Saund of California (who served from 1957-63) and Bobby Jindal (2005-07), now governor of Louisiana. [Link]

That’s right! The Pakistani community is getting behind their fellow South Asian. Now that is what I’m talking about. That’s real progress right there!

Let me leave you with one last bit of absurdity. The National Republican Rifle Association (NRA) has come out for Paulsen and against Madia. The NRA gives Madia a “D” grade: “anti-gun candidate who has … made strong statements in opposition to Second Amendment rights.” In fact Madia is a freaking Marine who supports the 2nd Amendment. Do any desis even belong to the NRA (besides our own Vinod who packs heat to defend our North Dakota bunker from local unfriendlies)? I mean seriously, the NRA is a (well-funded) partisan Republican organization and nothing more.

In any case, there is still time to support or volunteer for Madia’s campaign if you are so inclined.