Campaign ads? Check.
GOTV logistics? Check.
File a complaint accusing an opponent of breaking the law? The strategy is not yet an essential part of political campaigns, but this year at least, it seems to be a last-minute tactic of choice for both sides in the hotly contested U.S. Senate race.
First there was state Democratic Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo's complaint about World Wrestling Entertainment's Stand Up for WWE campaign, which she alleged was a barely veiled attempt to boost the ambitions of former WWE CEO and Republican U.S. Senate nominee Linda McMahon.
Then it was state GOP Chairman Chris Healy's turn to cry foul, lodging a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission alleging illegal coordination between Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Planned Parenthood.
Now Healy has filed another complaint alleging Blumenthal is playing games with his FEC filing. In a nutshell, Healy charges that Blumenthal either lied about his net worth or funneled more of his multi-millionaire wife's money into his campaign than is legally permitted. (The Blumenthal camp dismisses the allegation, calling it "a phony charge.")
Hearst Newspaper's Brian Lockhart checked in with a former FEC commissioner today, who says there's no way any of these complaints will be adjudicated before Election Day.
"Anybody who's filing a complaint now knows it can't be settled before Election Day,'' David Mason told Lockhart. "Or they're an idiot."