It’s a shame when the sideshow gets all the attention and nobody even notices the main attraction. That’s what we fear may be happening in the campaign for Third Circuit State Attorney. All eyes are focused on a note of protest pasted to the door of the Hamilton County Courthouse annex in February. The identity of the man seen on surveillance video posting the note has come to dominate the race in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the substantive issues of the campaign go largely unaddressed.

We won’t speculate as to the man’s identity. But we do know this: the note was posted legally and no law was otherwise broken.

We understand the concerns of those who have made up their minds as to the identity of the man on the tape and who view the question at hand as one of credibility. But the issue has been exhausted, in our view. Now it’s time to refocus on problems that matter: getting violent criminals off our streets, preventing crimes against children and the elderly, and reducing illegal drug use, among others.

We’d love to know to a certainty the identity of the man on the tape. Meanwhile, let’s direct our attention toward issues we suggest are more immediate.