Prosecutor alleges candidate faked disappearance to help campaign

[Ian David]

DOVER, N.H. -- A one-time congressional candidate faked a story about getting lost in the woods after a car crash -- all in an attempt to boost his lagging campaign -- authorities allege in a new court document.

The document alleges Gary Dodds made up his story to spark publicity and donations to his campaign, which he believed would help repay debts and avoid a possible investigation by the Federal Elections Commission.

Dodds said he hit his head in an April 2006 crash on the Spaulding Turnpike and wandered in a daze through the woods. Prosecutors, in court filings, say Dodds altered the appearance of his feet to back up his claim of crossing a river and being exposed to the elements.

<snip>

Dodds, a Democrat, told police he wrecked his "Dodds for Congress"-painted Lincoln Continental into a guardrail, became disoriented and wandered off, crossed the Bellamy River, then bedded down in a pile of leaves until a rescue dog found him 27 hours later. In a message posted on his campaign Web site after the accident, Dodds said he was driving to meet his campaign treasurer when he crashed. The car's air bags inflated, and he climbed out the passenger side window after finding his door wedged shut and smelling smoke.



More:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO67696/


It COULD have been worse. Consider what Republicans do...

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