When we saw that the 19th State Senate race would be fought between Republican Tony Strickland and Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson this spring, activist Democrats predicted a terrific battle.

Yet we never dreamed we would find Florida- and Ohio-like tactics from Republicans intimidating and registering voters.

Evidence of voter fraud involving a technique called "slamming" has been turned over to the Ventura County Elections Division and the Ventura County District Attorney by Vote Blue - Central Coast. The alleged fraud occurred over a one-month period in several cities in the county. Voters were tricked into registering for the Republican Party in several different scenarios.

Here are two recent accounts from Ventura County Democratic voters:

"My friend and I were shopping in Thousand Oaks. We were approached by two people and were told that they were collecting signatures for a petition to enforce that all sex offenders wear ankle bracelets which would track them. We signed the petition. Then they told us we had to register as Republicans in order for our signatures to count on the petition. They re-registered us right there but gave us no receipt. We are upset because we felt pressured and we are not Republicans."  

And another account:
 
"A young woman knocked at my door asking me to participate in a poll.  She identified herself as a Republican and I told her I was a Democrat and didn't want to change that.  She said that the questions and the signature wouldn't change my registration as a Democrat. So I signed.  Six weeks later I got notice from Ventura County that I was registered as a Republican."

Vote Blue has an initial dozen official Complaint to Election Officials forms filled in by angry Democrats and Decline to State voters. This is a felony, according to the fraud unit of the Secretary of State's office. The Ventura County Democratic Central Committee and Vote Blue are calling for the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, the Secretary of State and the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute those who knowingly are committing this fraud against voters.

And even more dirty tricks: A fellow blogger has posted an account of receiving a push poll call from a "research" group spreading misinformation about both Barack Obama and Hannah-Beth Jackson. 

Push polling, for those unfamiliar with the term, was made infamous in the 2000 presidential primary race when it was alleged that the Bush campaign used the technique to damage the reputation of Senator John McCain. Voters in South Carolina reportedly were asked "Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?"

McCain was reportedly furious over the smear. So now Republicans are using the same propaganda technique to prop up McCain and Strickland?

Push polling and slamming.  Welcome to Republican campaigning.