HBO Hit w/Pro-Otter Astroturfers

We’re getting another sign that Huckleberries Online has carved a decent niche in the Idaho blogosphere. We haven’t hit the deadline for signing up for the various offices for the spring primary,  and we’re already getting hit with “astroturfing.” (H/T to MarkR for providing a Wikipedia link that explains the term here. ) Seems it’s a campaign device to mimic grass-roots support for a candidate. We got hit with “IdahoDemocrat” Friday, who said of Dem gubernatorial wannabe Keith Allred (pictured): “Clearly, this Keith Allred is a shady character at best. Let’s not forget the IRS investigation into Keith Allred that started back in December, as well. Bottom line: Allred has no chance anyway in the election against Gov. Otter, but it’s be nice for the Dems to do a better job vetting the candidates.” Sounds like IdahoDemocrat is anything but one. Seems campaign operatives don’t realize that Huckleberries has been around the block many times — and can spot this kind of stuff in a heart beat.

Question: What should we do when we capture an astroturfer — front-page favorable stories re: the individual he’s trashing? Mock him? What?