Their powers combined, 'Kentucky Truth Squad' forms for Obama

The presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama announced the formation of the "Kentucky Truth Squad" this morning - a new effort the Obama camp says will help them "combat misleading attacks" from the campaigns of Senators John McCain and Hillary Clinton.

The "Kentucky Truth Squad" is composed of Louisville Metro Councilman David Tandy, former State Senator David Karem (D-Louisville), and state Representative Ruth Ann Palumbo (D-Lexington).

Those three joined Obama's Kentucky spokesperson Clark Stevens on a conference call today to talk about their mission.

"We want to stand up and refute false and misleading claims," said Tandy. "Kentucky has the opportunity to make a historic choice. We want to make sure the old-school Washington playbook of slash-and-burn politics...doesn't prevail at the end of the day."

The members of the "Truth Squad" were hopeful that contesting these so-called "misleading claims" would refocus the dialogue of the presidential race on issues.

"The Clinton campaign has been using divisive tactics...Kentucky voters want to hear about issues," said Palumbo. "When someone is behind as Senator Clinton is, they unfortunately tend to talk about the other person and try to drag the other person down."

Palumbo also said the "Truth Squad" would potentially call the press, hold events, or even run advertisements in response to attacks from the Clinton campaign.

Yesterday, while discussing visits from other presidential campaigns to the eastern Kentucky area he represents, Clinton supporter and state Senator Ray Jones (D-Pikeville) said "Every major candidate understands the importance of the people in eastern Kentucky and Appalachia, except Senator Obama."

Today, Karem said responding to such comments on Obama's behalf was the reason the "Truth Squad" was formed.

"Ray knows better than that," said Karem , who noted he served with Jones in the state Senate. "That's the reason we are here - to address these kinds of things."

Councilman Tandy later followed-up on Jones' charge by referring to the Obama campaign's expansion to rural parts of the state in eastern and western Kentucky.

"The Obama campaign is opening headquarters in places that have not seen a presidential campaign come through in a long, long, long time," said Tandy, who noted the number of offices the campaign has opened in the state is in the double-digits.

In towns such as Pikeville and Owensboro, Karem said the Obama campaign "opened up headquarters long in advance" of the Clinton campaign.

Stevens said the "truth squad" would help put the Clinton campaign "on notice" while the Obama campaign continued working around the state in the lead up to the May 20 primary.

"Across the state, we will continue outreach," said Stevens. "We are holding events daily, doing nightly phone banking, and canvassing several days a week."