With a fundraising email sent out under Sarah Palin's name Monday, the McCain campaign is now directly alleging that community organizer ACORN's recent efforts are part of a concerted strategy to steal the election on behalf of Barack Obama -- a startling and unsubstantiated claim.
The campaign and the Republican National Committee had been, until now, content to highlight Barack Obama's past ties to the group, which is suffering from bad press over fraudulent voter registration cards.
"The Obama Campaign even paid more than $800,000 to an ACORN affiliate for 'get out the vote activity.' And now we find out that ACORN is suspected of voter registration fraud," the email says. Obama's campaign did pay an ACORN affiliate, Citizens Services, for its work on his campaign during primary season.
"But, the Obama-Biden Democrats would rather sweep these facts under the rug and use their mainstream media allies to bury this story. But we can't let that happen. We can't allow leftist groups like ACORN to steal this election."
Recipients of the email are asked to donate anything from $25 to over $1,000 in order to support the campaign's work to "make sure the election is fair."
A "P.S." below Palin's signature hits the point once again.
"P.S. We've always known the Obama-Biden Democrats will do anything to win this November, but we didn't know how far their allies would go. The Obama-supported, far-left group, ACORN, has been accused of voter registration fraud in a number of battleground states. Our team, through McCain-Palin Victory 2008 is working to ensure that this election is conducted fairly. With your immediate financial support, we'll be successful. Please join our team for a fair election today. Thank you."
As The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder has noted, "none of the fraudulent cards will result in any fraudulent votes being cast." ACORN is required by law to turn in all completed forms collected by their canvassers, even those that are suspicious. For example, fake individuals registered by a rogue ACORN canvasser looking to goose his or her daily totals cannot magically show up to the polls on Nov. 4.
Full text of the email:
Dear Supporter,We're coming down to the final stretch of the campaign. Each day leading up to November 4th plays a critical role in securing a Victory for our team of reformers. And I'll get straight to my point - if we're going to win we need your immediate support.
Will you join the McCain-Palin Victory 2008 team today during these critical final days?
The Obama-Biden Democrats and their liberal, allied interest groups are spending more than $1 billion to defeat our ticket in critical races across the country. They're flooding the airwaves and stuffing mailboxes with misleading information, and in some cases flat out lies about us.
The truth is that far-left groups in this country will do anything to help the Obama-Biden Democrats win the White House and maintain their majorities in Congress. And last week, we found out they're going even further to win.
The left-wing activist group, ACORN, is now under investigation for voter registration fraud in a number of battleground states. ACORN's political action committee has endorsed Barack Obama and Senator Obama himself has said, "I have been fighting alongside ACORN on issues you care about my entire career." The Obama Campaign even paid more than $800,000 to an ACORN affiliate for "get out the vote activity." And now we find out that ACORN is suspected of voter registration fraud.
But, the Obama-Biden Democrats would rather sweep these facts under the rug and use their mainstream media allies to bury this story. But we can't let that happen. We can't allow leftist groups like ACORN to steal this election.
That's why McCain-Palin Victory 2008 has set out to ensure a fair election and I'm asking you to join us today. Will you follow this link immediately to give $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more to our effort?
McCain-Palin Victory 2008 helps fund our get-out-the-vote efforts in states across the country. We're working day and night to ensure this election is fair and we're working to elect the ticket that has a record of reform leadership.
Our team of reformers is ready to lead. We're ready to tackle issues affecting your family. But we'll get never get there without your support. Will you join our team in the final stretch before Election Day? With your help, I know we'll ensure this election is conducted in a fair manner. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Governor Sarah Palin
P.S. We've always known the Obama-Biden Democrats will do anything to win this November, but we didn't know how far their allies would go. The Obama-supported, far-left group, ACORN, has been accused of voter registration fraud in a number of battleground states. Our team, through McCain-Palin Victory 2008 is working to ensure that this election is conducted fairly. With your immediate financial support, we'll be successful. Please join our team for a fair election today. Thank you.