Considering what's going on in the GOP camp these days, I find it almost charming and quaint watching the leading Democratic campaigns exchange barbs this primary season. Witness...

A Tennessee-based surrogate campaign allegedly seeks to promote Mike Huckabee's candidacy... and if you believe the robo-callers, you'll find that Thompson is a baby-killer, Romney wants to give babies to homosexuals -- in other words, your standard, typical, garden-variety push poll.

Looks as though significant funding for this effort is coming from a sole source (h/t Tennessean).

An organizer for Mike Huckabee supporters in southern Tennessee and northern Georgia made a large donation to the group that has been sending out hundreds of thousands of automated telephone calls to voters in South Carolina attacking Huckabee's opponents for the Republican nomination for president.

Common Sense Issues Inc. portrays itself as an independent political organization and Huckabee's campaign denied any involvement with the group and disavowed its tactics, which have included millions of phone calls in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan and Nevada.

Mark West of Ooltewah, Tenn., near Chattanooga, gave a total of $48,500 to Common Sense Issues Inc., according to Federal Election Commission records. West and his wife, Lori, also gave the maximum of $2,300 each to Huckabee's presidential primary campaign.

And West is the organizer of the Chattanooga Mike Huckabee supporters meet-up group and the northern Georgia meet-up group as well. Huckabee has no formal state organizations in either state, according to his campaign Web site, but supporters are encouraged to click on a link that takes them to the online meet-up groups in their community, including West's two groups.

Two telephone messages left at West's home Thursday were not immediately returned.

What's a little mutual cannibalism among political rivals?

Common Sense Issues is run by Patrick Davis of Colorado Springs, Colo., a former national Republican Party operative. He has been open in describing the group's efforts and says they are legal.

Note the use of the word "legal." No word regarding whether or not this conduct is "ethical." (Note: Contributions of the sort made to Common Sense Issues Inc. are only "legal" insofar as they are not connected to or directed to a single candidate, so this question remains open.)

More about the GOP activist Mr. West after the flip...

On campaign records, West is listed as the chief operating officer of the Wellington Group. The company's Web site states he co-founded it in 1996 to develop assisted living facilities throughout the country "based on Christian values." West has given money recently to the National Republican Party, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and the leadership campaign committee of former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee.

Apparently, his business vision doesn't quite square with his political vision:

* Loving unconditionally
* Inspiring greater significance and purpose
* Fostering dignity and independence
* Excelling in all we do.

Not that he's really much in that business anymore... but West's share of $80 million will buy a lot of airtime for "legal" political attacks.

Brentwood-based Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain announced Thursday that client The Wellington Group LLC of Cleveland, Tenn., has reached an agreement to sell 17 of its 18 assisted living facilities to Chicago-based Brookdale Senior Living Inc. for $79.5 million.

ETA: Wowzers. If you haven't seen a particularly nasty anti-McCain ad which ran in South Carolina, follow this link. It would offend even Lee Atwater.

I predict unprecedented levels of ugly in the 2008 campaign.