BOSTON (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and his chief Democratic rival, Elizabeth Warren, have vowed to fight attack ads on television, radio and the Internet, but in their emailed appeals to supporters, the two routinely portray each other in the harshest light possible.

Brown’s campaign has labeled Warren a “far-left ideologue,” ”ardent leftist” and “rock-throwing street fighter” while Warren’s campaign says Brown sides with “the right wing of his party, against the people of Massachusetts.”

In part, the rougher tone reflects the partisan dynamics of political fundraising.

But in Massachusetts, there’s an added twist — an agreement struck by Brown and Warren to keep third party groups from running attack ads.

That means if there’s any mudslinging in the works, it will have to come from the candidates and their campaigns.
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