Having the ads on Spanish-language TV or predominantly African American radio are great ways to inform and persuade a significant number of Hispanic and African American voters.

There may be some phony or newly minted Republican candidates running on this, but the Republican voters have seen these tricks before and will likely not fall for them.

Earle's actions are aimed at undermining Republican congressional leadership, the party's legislative agenda and our chances in the 2006 federal and state elections.

The governor realizes that ultimately consumers are the ones that pay for frivolous and junk lawsuits in the form of higher prices for goods and services and higher insurance premiums. His view is that the system must have more balance and fairness built into it, and that balance and fairness is for plaintiffs, for consumers and for employers alike.

We were looking for real people. The Bush campaign has never signed an agreement to use union actors.

It remains to be seen whether this is politically useful, but they don't have much else.

The closeness of the election underscores the importance of the next president to unite rather than divide and to work with Democrats and Republicans alike to accomplish the goals put forward in the campaign.