The "scratch-and-sniff" mailer came from Republican candidate for U.S. Representative /*Van Tran*/, who's trying to unseat incumbent Democrat /*Loretta Sanchez*/. They're in a close race in the 47th Congressional District that includes Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana.
California State Assemblyman Van Tran reached out to voters in Orange County's Little Saigon. He received support from Lieutenant Governor /*Abel Maldonado*/.
"He's been my friend for six years," said Maldonado.
Tran is in a close race with Sanchez. With a week before Election Day, Tran is seeking voter attention with a scratch-and-sniff mailer aimed at his main opponent.
"Smells pretty bad," said Huntington Beach resident Dave Koffman.
"It has a bad odor. It smells. It has a skunk smell," said Westminster resident Melissa Dinh.
The flier reads "Something smells rotten about Loretta -- it's the stench of Washington."
"Washington, D.C., needs a real cleaning and a full-blown deodorizer," said Tran. "All the facts and all the information in the mailer are truthful."
"It is disgusting. We're trying to talk about the issues in the race and he's sending out smelly things," said Sanchez.
"She only passed one law. That's a fact," said Tran.
"Loretta has been to countless events herself," said Glenn Hayes, executive director of /*Neighborhood Housing Services of Orange County*/.
Sanchez was at an event to help protect homeowners from foreclosure scams Tuesday. She has represented the 47th Congressional District for 14 years.
The smelly flier says for the past four years she's taken more than 20 trips paid for by taxpayers. Sanchez says she travels for her work, which includes being vice-chair on Homeland Security and the ranking woman on all military issues in Congress.
"We have our military in 120 different countries and I have been there to see what is going on, even at danger to myself," Sanchez.
Tran's campaign won't give exact numbers, only that thousands of the stinky fliers went out.
While it did get some voters to stop and read, it still has not won over others.
"Still deciding," said Melissa Dinh.
