New developments in the Dole-Hagan war over the 'Godless' advertisement

One of the seemingly infinite number of political blogs out there, The New York Times's The Caucus recently featured a North Carolinian's perspective on the state's senatorial race between incumbent Republican candidate (and Duke graduate) Elizabeth Dole and Democrat and current state Sen. Kay Hagan.

Here at The Chronicle's Election 2008 blog, we recently wrote about the controversial advertisement that Dole has been running. It talks rather aggressively and suggestively about Hagan's alleged ties to "Godlessness," and has since seeped briefly into the national spotlight as well as incited a direct response from Kay Hagan's advertising crew. Rafael Miranda, a 68-year-old Hendersonville, N.C. resident, wrote a guest post on The Caucus about this ordeal.

I do understand that unfortunately TV ad attacks are part of the political process but, if they are going to be used, use them on the political issues, not on a personal or religious level. The race between these two ladies is very close. Polls do show Ms. Hagan ahead but the only poll that counts is the one taken next Tuesday. I just hope that those who have not voted yet will vote, not based on what Senator Dole said about her opponent and not on what her opponent said about Senator Dole, but on how one of them will help us through the many problems we are all facing.

Not to be out-blogged by The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune (my hometown paper!) wrote a thought-provoking blog post about the advertisement, too. Here's the most interesting point they make:

Another way to look at it, however, is as a testament to how far away North Carolina has moved away from the racial politics of Jesse Helms. An African-American is at the top of the ballot for Democrats this year, yet he's not the focus of the flailing, last-minute Dole ad. Who would have believed that just a few short years ago?

The title of their post, "Dole 'Godless' ad shows progress, sort of," makes an attempt to qualify their point about this situation. Both religion- and race-based lies, hatred, and discrimination have been a part of political campaigns for quite some time. Readers, do you, like The Chicago Tribune's writer, think the "Godless" ad shows progress of some sort?

Bonus link #1 -- Act III: Dole responds to Hagan's response, saying "Kay Hagan's faith? Not the question."

Bonus link #2 -- Dole is sued.