An e-mail attributed to Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, and sent out by the Barack Obama campaign took on those who would "swiftboat" Obama.

Kerry, saying in the e-mail that "this is personal for me, and for a whole lot of Americans who lived through the 2004 election," tells Obama supporters that "we must stop the swiftboating, stop the push-polling, stop the front groups, and stop the e-mail chain smears."

"The truth matters, but how you fight the lies matters even more. We must be determined never again to lose any election to a lie."

"These are the same tactics the right has used again and again, and as we've learned, these attacks, no matter how bogus, can spread and take root if they go unchecked."

"But not this time -- we're fighting back."

Kerry says that Obama "can't do it alone."

"We need you to email the truth to your address books. Print it out and post it at work. Talk to your neighbors. Call your local radio station. Write a letter to the editor. If lies can be spread virally, let's prove to the cynics that the truth can be every bit as persuasive as it is powerful."

The e-mail makes you wonder whom Kerry is targeting as the culprit.

Is this directed at the Clintons? He mentions the "right," but clearly he is referring to primary race tactics.

The gloves, as they say, are off.