A defaced Torres election billboard Photo: Mark Rabago
The two camps in the Governor run-off in the Northern Marianas are calling for calm after an alleged assault incident this week involving rival supporters.
Election day for the Governor run-off election is today but early voting has been open for some time.
The Marianas Variety reports Kin Evan Taisacan, a supporter of incumbent Ralph Torres said a supporter of the challenger, independent Arnold Palacios, tried to choke him.
He said the incident was reported to the Department of Public Safety.
Both political groups have set up canopies in the area across from the polling centre.
JB Palacios, a volunteer helping his nephew Arnold Palacios, denied there was any commotion at the candidate's camp, and a video circulating on social media "clearly showed" that the incident did not happen at the Palacios camp.
"In that video you can actually see an ambulance, a patrol car, with the blue lights and red lights flashing, as well as a political sign that does not say 'AD'," he added.
"It was not here, and I am not going to speculate on innuendos, all I can say...is that it was not here in the Independent camp nor did it involve anybody from here," Palacios added.
"One thing I can tell you in politics there are a lot of emotions. I have cousins who do not talk to me, just for the fact that I am supporting my nephew. At the end of the day come Friday [runoff election day], when everything has been said and done, we are going to have to meet somewhere and sit down, like this never happened."
Marianas Republican Party President Candace Celis said, "What happened was very unfortunate and these acts are unacceptable. We would like to ask everyone to respect each other's boundaries.
"The incident is under investigation, that is all we can say at this moment."