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Nov. 6 -- In one of the more gruesome developments of the campaign, a hunter in Pennsylvania awoke to a severed deer head on his lawn after speaking out in favor of Al Gore and criticizing the National Rifle Association.

James Ellenberger of Norvelt in western Pa., was interviewed after waving a “Hunters for Gore” sign at a Democratic rally last Friday. When asked if he was a member of the NRA, Ellenberger replied, “Not anymore.”

He told reporters the NRA (which has been blanketing the state with anti-Gore ads) was trying to scare traditionally Democratic union members into believing that a Gore administration would strip them of their rights to own any kind of gun.

“They are misstating the facts about a lot of people that are running for office,” Ellenberger (himself the director of servicing for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades) told The Associated Press. “Al Gore is not taking guns away from anyone; the idea is to make guns less accessible for children, for one thing.”

A couple of days later, Ellenberger found the deer head, perched on a stick on his front lawn. Local law enforcement would not comment on the message left for Ellenberger that was attached to the animal’s antlers.

Political Puffery?

ABC affiliate WISN-TV in Milwaukee, Wis., reported that homeless citizens who were offered rides to City Hall to cast absentee ballots on Saturday were given cigarettes by Democratic volunteers.

While there is nothing wrong with offering free rides to the polls — both parties provide the service as part of their “get out the vote” drives — Republicans have charged that offering the cigarettes was tantamount to a bribe, and have filed a formal complaint with the state’s election board, and a criminal complaint with the District Attorney.

“Anything that gets some kind of value, be it a $20 bill on the street out here or a pack of cigarettes, we think is wrong,” said State Rep. Scott Walker, a Republican.