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Orlando City Vehicles Painted With Anti-Obama Graffiti

The Associated Press

The messages spray-painted on municipal vehicles at Orlando City Hall take aim at Sen. Barack Obama.

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The Associated Press

Published: June 30, 2008

ORLANDO - Police on Sunday were investigating vandals' spray-painting of dozens of city vehicles, some with disparaging messages about presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Authorities think the vandalism to about 60 vehicles, estimated at $10,000 in damage, was done Saturday afternoon, police spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones said.

The vehicles were parked across from city hall and investigators said culprits tagged messages including "Obama smokes crack" and a racial epithet.

They even left business cards on the vehicles that disparage the Illinois senator and his rival, Republican Sen. John McCain. The cards voice support for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama's former opponent.

Mike Lowe, a videographer working for The Associated Press, first told police about the damage. He saw three cars with anti-Obama messages, while the others were just heavily painted. Police also found many of the vehicles had open gas tanks.

Clinton won the Florida Democratic primary, but the contest was held early in violation of party rules. Party leaders initially said that as punishment, the state's delegates would not be seated, then eventually agreed to seat half of them at the national convention.

Clinton's supporters wanted the state's delegation fully restored. Instead, the compromise pushed Obama toward the nomination.

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