Saturday, July 12
Boyd Urges Fellow Democrats to Halt Party Infighting
By Ken Thomas Associated Press Writer
Published: Jul 12, 2003
MIAMI (AP) - U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, one of five Democrats eyeing Bob Graham's Senate seat, called on his potential primary challengers Saturday to abstain from personal attacks and name-calling in the fledgling race.
Boyd, D-Monticello, wrote a letter to the field of Democrats in response to an early dustup in the campaign between U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch, D-Pembroke Pines, and Democratic Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas. Deutsch accused Penelas of hurting the Gore-Lieberman presidential ticket in 2000 and boycotted a party dinner last month because the mayor was receiving an award.
"The issues that face our state and our country call for responsible leadership," Boyd wrote. "Name-calling and personal attacks fully 16 months before the election do not serve the interests of our party or our state."
Graham, one of nine Democrats seeking the White House,
has not completely ruled out campaigning for another term if his presidential bid fails. None of the Democratic hopefuls plan to challenge Graham if he runs for re-election. (snip/...)
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/florida/MGARGFB12ID.html