Violence and the 2004 Election

Across the country, there has been a concerted series of attacks on GOP offices and anti-GOP violence and I'm finding it interesting how little press attention has been given to this spate of violence. Even the New York Times, not the most right-leaning publication, noted a series of almost 40 incidents nationwide that bespoke of a concerted, planned effort to intimidate. Nationwide, incidents of violence and 'dirty tricks' abound:

• Katherine Harris Nearly Run Down: Florida Democrat told police he was "exercising my political expression".
• Tires Slashed on 30 Republican Get-Out-the-Vote Cars: Someone attacked a fleet of campaign vehicles just hours before the polls opened this morning..
• Flagstaff GOP Office: Vandalized
• Knoxville GOP Office: Shots Fired
• Spokane GOP Office: Burglarized, Vandalized
• Mississippi GOP Office: Vandalized
• Portland GOP Office: Windows Smashed
• Wisconsin GOP Office: Vandalized
• Minnesota GOP Office: Shots Fired
• Gainesville: GOP Chief Punched
• Orlando GOP Office: Invaded, Ransacked
• Mypollingplace.com Site Hacked and Temporarily Brought Down: The site shows users their nearest polling place.
• Pies Thrown at Conservative Talking Head Coulter.

There was some talk that this series of attacks might be the work of the AFL-CIO. On October 11, the Bush-Cheney campaign accused the AFL-CIO of acts of vandalism at a handful of its offices around the country - an allegation the labor federation denied. In a letter to the president of the AFL-CIO, Bush campaign chairman Marc Racicot cited injuries and damages at an office in Orlando, Fla., and disruptions in Michigan. Racicot said the labor protests came after incidents at other offices in Ohio, West Virginia, Florida and Tennessee.

Here's a related thread, and more news here and here and here.