Mayoral contender Carol Moseley Braun suggested Monday she was provoked into calling a little-known opponent a crack addict and declined to issue an apology. The target of Braun's sharp personal attack, Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins, said Braun's remarks suggest she doesn't have the disposition to be mayor. "It has something to do with character," said Watkins, 53, who has admitted a youthful history of illegal drug abuse, including an addiction to cocaine. But she said she never touched crack and has been clean for 32 years.
It was not the first time Braun's offhand remarks have created a problem for her during the mayor's race. Three weeks ago, she backtracked after telling reporters she wouldn't join other candidates in releasing income tax returns "because I don't want to." That time, it took Braun a week to answer questions about her finances. Braun's response to Watkins again raised questions about her campaign's ability to stay on message and contain controversy.
The latest issue began Sunday at a candidate forum at Trinity United Church of Christ after Watkins criticized Braun as being "missing in action" on Chicago issues since losing her bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 1998. "Patricia, the reason you didn't know where I was for the last 20 years is because you were strung out on crack," Braun said. "I was not strung out on crack. I don't have a record."
Watkins said she doesn't have a record either. A search of public records showed no criminal cases involving Watkins in Chicago.
It's unclear why Braun would go after Watkins, who had 1 percent support in the latest Tribune poll on the mayor's race. Braun was in second place at 21 percent.
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