JACKSON - Republican attorney general candidate Scott Newton is circulating a videotape showing his opponent's campaign manager pulling up Newton's political signs.
Morgan Shands, campaign manager for Democrat Jim Hood, admits he's the man on the tape. However, Shands says that the Newton signs had been placed in front of Hood's downtown Jackson headquarters.
He said he pulled the signs Wednesday night after someone destroyed a large Hood banner at the site.
Shands said the tape is part of a Newton conspiracy.
"We don't go to their campaign headquarters and put up Jim Hood signs. Obviously, this whole thing was a setup," Shands said after viewing the tape.
Newton spokesman Neil Forbes denied lying in wait for Shands. Forbes said Derek Easley, Newton's political director, shot the video Wednesday.
"He was on his way home. He went to McDonald's, turned around and was heading back, saw Morgan walking out going toward the signs, made sort of a loop and broke out the camera," Forbes said.
Forbes said the Newton campaign has never put signs directly in front of Hood's campaign office or destroyed any of the Democrat's banners.
Forbes said the sign problem began with President Bush's visit to Mississippi on Sept. 12. Forbes said someone stole Newton's signs that had been placed next to Bush's banners and replaced them with Hood's.
As the Nov. 4 election nears, Newton's campaign is apparently getting "desperate," Shands said.
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