Race in NY's 25th Tightens
One of the biggest names in politics comes out in support of a congressional candidate here in New York.President Clinton campaigned in New York's 25th District - where incumbent Louise Slaughter is facing a tough challenge from Republican Maggie Brooks. Nick Reisman has more on the race.
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To say the race in the 25th Congressional District has gotten negative would be an understatement.
In one corner is the 12-term Democratic incumbent Louise Slaughter, who has hammered her Republican opponent, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, by tying her to a host of corruption scandals.
"I would think that if I were in your boots," Slaughter said, "I would be at this night and day thinking what in the world went on here?"
And those TV ads have been harsh, painting the three-term county executive as a corrupt local politician.
Only some of the ads have been called inaccurate by several observers, including the Fair Practices Campaign Committee.
"Three independent fact-checking organizations said the ads were false but she continued to run them," said Brooks, (R).
For her part, Slaughter defended the accuracy of the ads.
"We got those same figures from the same comptroller. What happened with that and I regret it because I've never had anything like that even hinted at before, but the fact of the matter and the truth of the matter is how much corruption is too much corruption?" asked Slaughter, (D).
And Brooks, a former television reporter in Rochester, has proven she can give as good as she gets, blasting Slaughter for her campaign tactics.
A Siena College poll released Sunday showed Brooks gaining ground on Slaughter, but she is still down by five percentage points.
"The fact that we have momentum despite the negative advertising it shows that people are focused on the right issues – jobs and the economy. That's what we're talking about so we're relating message more to the voters of this community," Brooks said.
The race has national implications as Democrats seek to regain control of the House and the GOP to expand its majority.
National figures have come to the district with House Speaker John Boehner fundraising for Brooks and former President Bill Clinton in the area to boost Slaughter.