Candidate attacks early in campaign

Analysis:

Ask yourself, why did the GR Press use the term “attacks” in the headline? Does this language set readers up to view electoral politics as negative? It is true that candidate Bowen did make a comment about Cox’s extramarital issue, but are journalists required to report on such “attacks?” Bowen did claim that Cox has not responded to 500 complaints, but the Press article does not verify Bowen’s claim nor clarify what the state’s item-pricing law is.

Story:

Democratic challenger Scott Bowen has gone on the offensive against Attorney General Mike Cox. The former judge said Cox is “breaking his oath” by failing to respond to 500 complaints about stores ignoring the state’s item-pricing law. Bowen also injected Cox’s extramarital affair into the campaign. “Maybe his personal problems are affecting his ability to concentrate” on his job, Bowen said. Republicans called the attacks “Fieger-like,” a reference to attorney Geoffrey Fieger. “It’s curious to see him on the attack this early in that manner,” Republican spokesman Nate Bailey said of Bowen.