The Whistle Stop Tour was an outstanding success. We received good press coverage from KDLT television, the Watertown Public Opinion, Brookings Register, Clear Lake Courier and Argus Leader.

However, several media outlets were cheated out of the opportunity to cover the event.

The following fake "press release" was sent out by someone the Friday before the Whistle Stop Tour in an attempt to curtail news coverage of the event.

It was sent it out to eight news outlets: Canton newspaper, the parent company of the Dell Rapids newspaper, KELO television, KSFY television, KDLT television, the Clear Lake newspaper, the Grant County (Milbank) newspaper, and Watertown paper (the Public Opinion).

The Whistle Stop Tour was designed to focus attention on the I-29 Dairy Corridor and the right to vote.

Several major media outlets including KSFY television and KELO television had intended to cover the event but specifically did not do so because of this e-mail. We also did not receive coverage at two other stops where newspapers received this e-mail.

Dirty tricks deprived many people of learning about the issues. This is certainly a fraud upon democracy and the candidates who came to speak. The bullies who sent this do not believe in dialogue or the right to vote.

Here is the message that was sent out.

Notice, they went to yahoo.com and got an e-mail address in our name:

"i29ersforqualityoflife@yahoo.com"

This is not the work of some kid. It is very professionally written. We need to find the identity of this culprit. Such dirty tricks are an affront to democracy.