“I think associations are fair game.” As they should be.

GOP chief vows to go after Obama’s relationships

WASHINGTON - Despite a vow to focus on issues, the Republican Party plans to use Barack Obama’s relationships with controversial figures to undermine the public’s view of his character, according to the chairman of the Republican National Committee. [...]

[GOP Chairman Robert M. "Mike"] Duncan said that the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, had instructed him to run a campaign based on issues.

“He made it clear that he wanted to run a respectful campaign, a respectful campaign on issues, because this is the biggest leadership contest in the world, and we’re doing that,” Duncan said in an interview taped for C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” program that was conducted by reporters from McClatchy, the Politico Web site and C-SPAN.

Still, he said that Obama’s judgment and character were legitimate targets.

“I think associations are fair game,” Duncan said in the interview.