Is it possible, in 2008, for a campaign to cross a tasteless barrier?

The DFL is holding a news conference at 12:30 p.m. today to attack a cartoon flier mailed to Minnesotans in the last few days by the National Republican Senatorial Committee in support of Sen. Norm Coleman. The opening page of the flier starts with this "Come on in kids. ... Senator Franken's going to tell a few jokes …''

But what follows is not kids' stuff, according to some who are angered by the content. There's old material about Franken's past writings about such things as "rape.''  The NRSC makes it clear, on the last panel of the flier, the material is not intended for children. "Al Franken, a bad example for our kids. Completely unfit for public office,'' the flier concludes.

News of the flier first surfaced on AMERICAblog.Com.

But, DFLers — and perhaps others — argue that the cartoon nature of the flier makes it seem as if this would be an enjoyable piece of campaign literature for children.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, State Auditor Rebecca Otto and "a mother from Edina'' are to be featured at the news conference.