Barack 'Osama' Appears On Ballots In New York

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama speaks during a rally in Colombus, Ohio, on October 10, 2008.

Emmanuel Dunand, AFP/Getty Images

Whether it's a mistake or something more nefarious, "Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's last name is spelled "Osama" on hundreds of absentee ballots mailed out this week to voters in Rensselaer County."

The Times Union has more:

The misspelling, which elections officials on both sides of the aisle insist was simply a typo, is causing embarrassment for the county.

''No question this is an honest mistake innocently done,'' said Edward McDonough, the Democratic commissioner. ''We catch almost everything.''

... One Sand Lake resident who caught the misspelling, and who asked to remain anonymous, was skeptical.

''It's a little suspicious and at least grossly incompetent,'' the voter said. "If I crossed out the name and wrote in the right spelling my ballot would be invalid."

What do you think?

Geoffrey Bennett

Tags: Barack Obama | Barack Osama

5:40 PM ET | 10-10-2008 | permalink

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