The long, nasty campaign begins

Dear Think Southers,
I just got a political phone call that is a warning of a brutally ugly future. Alabama is days away from it's primary. The phone has been ringing off the hook with nasty campaign calls. It's all a part of what University of Alabama professor calls "a battle for the soul of the GOP."

Sitting at home this Saturday evening, I was called not about Tuesday's election, but about the one in 2008. The telemarketer said she represented the National Rifle Association. She played a brief message from NRA chief Wayne LaPierre. The central point of the message was: Head for the hills! Hillary Clinton wants to take your handguns. She won't rest until she's got 'em all.

It's a bunch of nonsense. Nothing more than a push poll more than two years ahead of the next presidential election.

Once the message ended, a telemarketer returned to the line and asked for a donation.

What have we learned?

A HRC run for president will not be a pretty thing. Her foes will Swiftboat her like there's no tomorrow. Since 1992, it's taken as gospel that the New York senator and former first lady just scares the pants off the average Southerner. Tonight's call is nothing more than a tell, a tip-off for what we can expect if Sen. Clinton decides to run for president.

Southerners deserve - and should demand - a campaign on the issues. Not just a series of scare tactics.