Dukakis accuses McCain of race-baiting tactics

New York, Sept.24 : Former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis has accused Republican presidential candidate John McCain of promoting "race-baiting" tactics against his Democratic opponent Barack Obama.

Dukakis had an ominous warning for Barack Obama - "Don't forget Willie Horton."

In an interview with PolitickerMA.com, Dukakis claimed the McCain camp is using the same tactics that sunk his presidential campaign in 1988.

"The same thing is happening this year," the New York Daily News quoted him, as saying.

He was referring to a recent McCain Campaign ad that claimed Obama got advice from Franklin Raines, a former CEO of the recently bailed out mortgage giant Fannie Mae.

The ad intersperses images of Obama and Raines, both African Americans, with an image of an old white woman.

"Why did they pick that person from Fannie Mae?" Dukakis asked rhetorically.

The now infamous 'Willie Horton' ad spotlighted convicted murderer Horton, who was released as part of a weekend furlough program Dukakis had supported.

While free, Horton raped a white woman, the TV spot explained.

When it ran, George H.W. Bush was trailing in the polls, but the ad succeeding in portraying the Democrat as soft on crime, a critical issue in the election.

"You have to be very careful with race. For us on the outside, we can point it out," Dukakis said.

ANI