It's been a while since I've posted here about the Democratic primary to represent Iowa's third Congressional district, but I've been busy covering the race at Bleeding Heartland.

Today I want to bring you up to date on the increasingly negative campaign that six-term incumbent Congressman Leonard Boswell has been running against Ed Fallon.

For more background on the race, here are links to some of my previous diaries:

the introductory diary, with biographical information on Boswell and Fallon

The cases for Fallon and Boswell

Boswell and Fallon pick up the pace

Will Democrats vote on the issues?

Who would be a more effective representative?

Follow me after the jump for more...

Vote Roy Carter on www.democracyforamerica.com/gras

Far too often Washington politicians use fear and divisiveness to distract the electorate and avoid talking about the real issues. In this critical election, I believe the American people will discover more that unites rather than divides our communities. A single mother living in a rural community and a college student in a small town are united by their struggle to afford a quality education. A factory worker and a small business owner share the same concern about the outrageously high cost of healthcare. I am running for Congress in the North Carolina 5th District and, when elected, I will work to bring our district and our country together while we tackle the tough issues.  I will always be truthful about where I stand.

The Roy Carter for Congress campaign slogan, "People Above Politics," is not just a marketing phrase. It is a principle that has guided my life and a belief that drives my passion for public service. I believe that the measure of a good member of Congress must be more than just an accounting of votes cast. What matters most is what those votes stand for and whether or not they were used to better the lives of people.

There's a stiff competition raging at the Democracy for America website -- they've nominated almost 100 candidates to compete for the title of DFA Grassroots All-Star Congressional. My boss, Chellie Pingree, is truly a grassroots all-star, as campaign volunteer and long-time DFA organizer Alison Smith of Portland so aptly describes below. Her opinion is echoed by John Nichols in this week's post in The Nation, as he describes Chellie as part of "a trend that has seen veteran social activists drawn into politics by their frustration with extreme Republicans and cautious Democrats."

You can vote for Chellie here: http://democracyforamerica.com/gras

Democracy for America, the successor organization to Howard Dean's amazing grassroots presidential campaign, is having a contest to name a Grassroots All-Star for 2008. Many terrific congressional candidates from all around the country have been nominated, and the competition is fierce! Much more than a mere online poll, the winner of this contest will have the benefit of DFA's nationwide network of deeply committed progressive activists.

Maine's Chellie Pingree is exactly the kind of person we all think of when we wish that good people would run for office. That's why I voted for her in the DFA competition. More importantly, she is exactly what the Democratic party needs to strengthen its progressive backbone... especially in the United States Congress.

Before Chellie entered politics, she was a mom, an organic farmer and a small business owner, but most importantly, Chellie was an engaged citizen. Her first forays into the political world - running for tax assessor and for the school committee - sprang directly from her involvement in her community.

Whenever Chellie gets involved with something, she ends up leading. She won a seat on the school committee and wound up chairing it. She later won a seat in the State Senate and wound up as Majority Leader. (cont.)

Democracy for America's 2008 Grassroots All-Stars vote is underway and we have a chance to use the voting to push for a endorsement of progressive Democrats running in tough primaries. Specifically Ed Fallon.

Ed is a progressive Democrat running against Bush Dog Leonard Boswell. Ed ran for governor in 2006 and won the district in the primary. We have done great work for Mark Pera and Donna Edwards campaigns against Bush Dogs. Now with a extra netroots boost Fallon can beat another Bush Dog!

On the same day that Dennis Kucinich took a stand for the Constitution and pushed for impeachment, the results of the DFA Presidential Pulse Poll confirmed that Progressives are willing to do the same.

The DFA Presidential Pulse Poll ends tonight at Midnight Eastern/9:00 PM Pacific Standard Time, which only gives us a few hours to cast our votes. So far, over 130,000 votes have been cast, making it the largest presidential poll of progressive activists this year. I am genuinely proud to write that Dennis Kucinich currently leads with over 30% of the vote.

Dennis Kucinich submitted a clear statement to Democracy For America Presidential Pulse Poll, outlining his bold leadership as the Progressive candidate in this election. As I can't really improve upon his clear and compelling words, I need only quote his letter:

Just the facts: After much debate and passion, the Washington, DC Chapter of Democracy for America, DC for Democracy (aka DC Deaniacs), had it's endorsement vote tonight at historic & delicious Ben's Chili Bowl on U St. in Washington, DC, where we pay taxes but can't vote on the US House of Representatives, and the results were: