A Florida Democratic Party hit mailer about Allen West's personal financial history failed to redact the congressional candidate's Social Security number. If it really is an "oversight," as the Democrats are claiming, it's a very stupid one. If it's a deliberate invitation to a criminal to steal West's identity -- as West's campaign manager argues -- then it's even stupider, because that kind of tactic would backfire for the Democratic candidate, Ron Klein.
It's hard to know the true motives of the two candidates. But it speaks volumes that the Florida Democratic Party responded to its controversy with an acknowledgement of an error and an offer to pay for two years' identity theft protection for West.