Dean Complains Gephardt Aides Getting Physical

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Democrat Howard Dean's presidential campaign complained to rival Dick Gephardt about an angry confrontation between staffers at an Iowa event.

The incident occurred during a Gephardt speech at a Des Moines senior center Tuesday. Hunter Allen, recording the speech for the Dean campaign, said one Gephardt staffer grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him out of the crowd. A second staffer pushed him out the door.

"The one who was pushing me out was grabbing my arm, and at other points, he physically shoved me." Allen said, adding that the pair swore at him and used a derogatory slur. "I was in shock at being treated that way."

In a letter to the Gephardt campaign late Tuesday, Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi said, "I urge you to find the staff member responsible and fire him, and send a strong signal to the rest of your staff that behavior of this kind will not be tolerated."

Erik Smith, spokesman for the Gephardt campaign, said Wednesday, "this guy was belligerent and we escorted him out." He referred to the incident as political dirty tricks.

"Absolutely untrue," Allen said. "I was not there to disrupt ... it was not my intention. I was there to take notes, record and report back. I consider myself to be very professional."

Dean, the former Vermont governor, and Gephardt, the Missouri congressman, are atop the pack of Democrats campaigning for Iowa's leadoff precinct caucuses. Campaigns often send staffers to rival events to keep track of their opponents.

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