I don't have a citation. My understanding is that it is a true story. If you want to look for it, you might check for mudslinging political campaigns in the Deep South of the US prior to, say, 1950 (possibly even 1800's).
EDIT: Found a reference to this:
Reynolds told the backcountry crowds that his opponent had once sunk so low as go up to Harvard (pronounced HAW-vud). What did the man do there? Why, he "matriculated"! And, worse, he became "a thespian"! Imagine.
EDIT: Found a reference to this:
Reynolds told the backcountry crowds that his opponent had once sunk so low as go up to Harvard (pronounced HAW-vud). What did the man do there? Why, he "matriculated"! And, worse, he became "a thespian"! Imagine.
Naturally, Reynolds won the race.
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/02/21/morro...