Police: Political debate turned violent

NORRISTOWN, Pa., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Norristown, Pa., police say a pair of brothers-in-law attacked one another over a disagreement about their choices for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Prosecutors said Hillary Clinton-backer Jose Ortiz, 28 stabbed Barack Obama supporter Sean Shurelds, 42, in the stomach after the two men had a heated argument about their chosen candidates that led to Shurelds attempting to choke Ortiz, WPVI-TV, Philadelphia, reported Tuesday.

"Their verbal argument became physical. One began choking the other, and then the victim of the choking took a kitchen knife and stabbed his brother- in-law in the stomach," Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

Ortiz, who is a registered Republican, is charged with aggravated and simple assault and reckless endangerment. Shurelds was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. Doctors said his condition has since improved to good.

"This is the kind of argument that takes place in households across the region, across the state, across the country, but it never turns violent like this. The consequences here are very serious," said Ferman.