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Fundraising E-mails Draw Criticism

While many candidates ended 2009 with a flurry of typical campaign fundraising appeals, a few have struck a nerve and provided ammunition for political opponents.First was Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.), who has been slammed by Democrats for sending an e-mail soliciting funds while citing the attempted airline attack on Christmas Day. Hoekstra criticized the Obama administration’s response and asked for donations for his gubernatorial campaign, promising he would “stand up the Obama/Pelosi efforts to weaken our security.—The e-mail even prompted a response from one of his opponents in the Republican primary for governor, businessman Rick Snyder, who sent out an e-mail to supporters titled “No Fundraising On Failed Terror Attacks.—Then on Wednesday, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina’s California Senate campaign seized on a fundraising e-mail from Sen. Barbara Boxer’s (D-Calif.) son talking about how proud he was of his mom. While plenty of candidates use family surrogates to send out fundraising communiques, the Republican challenger sought to play up the irony of Doug Boxer’s solicitation, noting that he also serves as the Senator’s political action committee director, a service for which his consulting firm has been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars.His position, along with that of other family members working for politicians, has been reported on in the past, and Boxer’s staff has noted that he has a law degree and years of experience in politics.“Doug Boxer wasn’t kidding when he signed off this letter to donors by saying ‘our entire family is so grateful for your strong support’ — he’s grateful more than anyone since he’s been lining his pockets with hundreds of thousands of dollars thanks to his mother’s long career in politics,— Julie Soderlund, Fiorina’s deputy campaign manager, said in a statement.Retorted Boxer campaign manager Rose Kapolczynski: “We have always been prepared for a brutal negative campaign from our opponents. But it’s sad to see this kind of personal attack on Sen. Boxer’s family. It’s a sign of a truly desperate campaign when they turn away from the issues and start attacking the candidate’s family.—

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