He Hate Lee: Yee, Lee Campaigns Scuffle

The political battle for who will be San Francisco's next mayor spilled out onto the streets on Tuesday, and became more than a little physical.

Campaign staffers for state. Sen. Leland Yee and Mayor Ed Lee came close to blows on Tuesday afternoon outside Yee's campaign office, where a former campaign worker was set to accuse Lee's campaign of paying Bayview residents to campaign for the mayor, according to the San Francisco Examiner.

The "chaotic and ugly" scene culminated when reporters, called out to Yee's Van Ness Avenue office to hear from the former campaign worker who was allegedly one of the Bayview residents paid $150 to hang campaign signs for Lee, witnessed two members of Lee's campaign staff disrupt the event, calling out Yee for "flat-out lies." Yee staffers shouted over the Lee staffers during reporters' questioning, and a terse standoff ensued.

The anonymous campaign worker never appeared at the event, and was holed up later at a safe house "fearful for his life," according to Yee's campaign.

Police were called, but no report was filed.