Congressional candidate Vaughn Ward has posted three new issue statements on his website - and portions of one of them, on the war in Iraq, match, nearly word-for-word, the national security issue statement of freshman Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, the son of the longtime congressman and former Armed Services Committee chairman Duncan Hunter Sr., who in February came to Idaho to campaign for Ward. Ward and the younger Hunter have much in common; both are Marine veterans who served in combat in Iraq.

The matchup in the wording follows Ward's removal of all of his issue position statements last week after The Spokesman-Review reported that five of the 10 were identical to statements on other candidates' or congressmen's websites, including two that touted specific pending legislation in Congress that Ward said he didn't necessarily support. New campaign spokesman Mike Tracy, who took over that role from campaign manager Ryan O'Barto, who resigned on Friday, wasn't immediately available for comment on the new position statements.

Here are the two statements:

From the website of Duncan D. Hunter for Congress:

National Security

Government's most fundamental responsibility is to protect its citizens. After serving three tours of duty in the Middle East since 9/11/2001, I understand the tremendous threat to our future posed by terrorism and the spread of radical and violent Islamism.  Now, as much as at any time in our history, we need to be vigilant and strong. My platform includes:

   1. Strengthen and maintain our military to keep us safe.
   2. Make sure the men and women serving us in uniform have the best equipment and training available.
   3. Eliminate government red tape and bureaucratic roadblocks that hamper our efforts to obtain new weapons and intelligence technology.

From Idaho congressional candidate Vaughn Ward's website this morning:

The War in Iraq

My background enables me to be uniquely qualified to help with our government's most fundamental responsibility - protecting its citizens.

I have served two tours in the Middle East since 9/11 with the CIA and the Marine Corps, witnessing firsthand the threat that terrorists pose to our national security.  Our nation has not been attacked since September 11th.  This is partially attributed to the fact that Al-Qaeda was dealt a serious blow in Afghanistan and Iraq by U.S. and allied forces.  Now, as much as any time in our history, we need to be vigilant, united, and strong.  I support strengthening and maintaining our military and ensuring that the men and women serving us in uniform have the best equipment and training available

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