With election day around the corner, the candidates are all out making one last push. There’s not much left to be done except try to turn out the voters.

This is the time, though, when the shenanigans are at their peak. The push polls and whisper campaigns will be in high gear over the weekend.

I inadvertently found myself caught up in this sort of mess on Friday, when I heard that Paul Broun went on Austin Rhode’s radio show in Augusta and told him that I told Broun (follow that?) that Team Fleming is spreading around rumors about the circumstances surrounding Broun’s departure from the Sumter County hospital long ago.

Since Broun himself is fond of getting out ahead of such rumors – he once told the AJC that people were saying he spent time in a mental institution – I’ll go ahead and repeat them here. Supposedly Broun lost his attending privileges because he either punched or groped a patient.

The fact that there are at least two versions is a good sign it’s B.S. I’ve checked it out and turned up nothing. Where there’s smoke, there’s not always fire.

Surely it’s something Team Fleming looked into as well. They did their due diligence on Broun, pulling court records and so forth. But if they have any proof of those charges, they haven’t shared it with me. And I can’t say for a fact that the Fleming folks are spreading it around, because the rumors go back to the 2007 campaign.

Anyone who hears about any funny business, you know what to do – post it here.

A Fleming fan in the OC

While looking through the candidates’ FEC reports last week I noticed that state Rep. Bob Smith dropped a little cash on Barry Fleming’s campaign. Many state lawmakers are supporting Fleming, but since Smith represents Broun’s home base of Oconee County, I was a bit surprised.

Smith said he doesn’t know Fleming that well, but is impressed with his intelligence and work ethic as majority whip, a position that requires him to read at least summaries every bill that’s dropped and lean on colleagues to vote one way or another.

“Barry’s one of the smartest guys I’ve ever seen in the legislature,” Smith said, damning with faint praise. “I’m a loyalist to him because he’s done some really hard heavy lifting up there.”

Last-minute endorsements

The anti-tax Reaganites at the Club for Growth, which gave Broun a perfect 100 score for opposing pork projects, blasted Fleming last week for not signing a pledge to not accept earmarks.

I thought Fleming had signed the pledge, so I contacted Team Fleming for clarification and didn’t hear back.

I wonder if that A+ grade from Club for Growth is worth all the heat Broun’s been taking on the Campbell Center.

And the Georgia Conservation Voters endorsed state Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, over primary opponent Tommy Malcom.

The group said Cowsert supports transit options, alternative fuels, long-term water management, incentives for developers to protect natural areas and energy-efficient buildings.

I can vouch for Cowsert becoming very well-versed in water issues over the past year.

Live blogging

Depending on how bored/tired/hung over I am tomorrow, I may live-blog the U.S. Senate debate that airs at 12:30 p.m. Sunday on WSB. Check back in.

Blake.aued@onlineathens.com