10/01/2010 - Osili: GOP criticism of his financial report omissions is a diversion (Courier-Journal)

INDIANAPOLIS — Democrats and Republicans traded jabs Thursday in Indiana's secretary of state race, with the GOP criticizing the Democratic candidate's campaign finance reports and Democrats saying that was an attempt to distract attention from the Republican nominee's alleged voter fraud.

The state Republican Party on Thursday pointed out irregularities in Democratic candidate Vop Osili's campaign finance reports, such as contributions from anonymous donors. Campaign finance reports often include omissions or mistakes. 

"Some of these violations seem to be simple carelessness in reporting, but many appear to be efforts intended to hide substantial information from public view," GOP spokesman Trevor Foughty said in a statement.

Osili said he would review his reports and quickly fix any problems, but said he wasn't aware of any campaign finance violations and wasn't trying to hide anything. The Republicans' statement about Osili was sent to media outlets an hour before Osili held a news conference focusing on Republican candidate Charlie White's alleged voter fraud. "This is purely a diversionary tactic of comparing apples to hand grenades," said Democratic Party spokesman Adam Elkington.

Democrats said this week that White committed voter fraud in the May 4 primary by using his ex-wife's home in Fishers as his address even though he didn't live there. White blamed his busy schedule for the mistake and changed his voter registration last week to his current address, a condominium he bought in February.

Current Republican Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a Republican who is prevented by term limits from seeking a third term, said he's investigating the allegations of voter fraud.