U.S. Congressman Ron Kind says recent pay-for-play allegations being raised against him are just a last-minute attack by his opponent.
Two doctors from Eau Claire’s Oak Leaf Surgical Hospital sent signed affidavits to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, claiming Kind’s local office required the hospital to come up with $10,000 in campaign donations, in return for a visit from Kind three years ago.
The La Crosse Democrat calls that a lie, and a last minute attempt to tarnish his reputation. He says it sets a new low in unethical standards from his opponent’s campaign.
Republican challenger Dan Kapanke’s campaign manager says they had nothing to do with this attack, a week before Election Day. Brian Chatwin says they have learned that one doctor identified in the report, Michael Smith, is a Kapanke campaign contributor. However, he says Smith was just a private citizen telling his story.