By HDN Staff
The Havre Daily News cannot endorse either of the major political party candidates for the U.S. Senate in this year's election.
While most, or even all, of the major campaigns seem to be degenerating into name-calling and mudslinging, the Burns-Schweitzer campaign slipped into that mode long before the rest. Recent advertising seems to be swinging back in the direction of issues in the campaign, but earlier attacks from both sides could be used in a class on how not to campaign.
Burns started early, such as with misrepresentations of Schweitzer's claims about drug pricing using breast cancer survivors to tear at the heartstrings. The emphasis on Schweitzer's replies were not his proving his claims were true, but to insult Burns and call him names.
Burns seems so intent to win his third term, that he promised in his first election that he wouldn't run for, that his advertising focuses on every issue, real or imagined, other than the veracity of what Schweitzer is saying.
On the other hand, Burns is a 12-year veteran of the U.S. Senate, and perhaps Schweitzer should be focusing on replying to Burns' claims, instead of claiming the difficult issues are, perhaps, too difficult for Burns to understand.
This is a prime example of misleading the voters, clouding the issues and attacking each other personally, instead of focusing on what policies and programs are best for Montana and who can best implement them.
This campaign is a perfect example of what is wrong with campaigning in America today, and we cannot, in good conscience, endorse either of the candidates.
