Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is launching a fightback against attempts to “Swiftboat” him, according to a prominent fellow Democrat who should know such tactics when he sees them.

Losing 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry implored Obama supporters in an e-mail on Tuesday to “stand up and take action” against “Swiftboat style” attacks that he said have already begun against the candidate.

“Some of you may have heard about the disgusting lies about Barack Obama that are being circulated by e-mail,” the Massachusetts senator said. “These attacks smear Barack’s Christian faith and deep patriotism, and they distort his record of more than two decades of public service. They are nothing short of ‘Swiftboat’ style anonymous attacks.”

Kerry’s 2004 campaign was dogged by political opponents called the “Swiftboat Veterans for Truth” and their claims questioning his military service on a swiftboat in Vietnam that his campaign was slow to challenge.

“This is personal for me, and for a whole lot of Americans who lived through the 2004 election,” said Kerry, who has endorsed Obama.

Among his tips on combating attacks, Kerry urged people to e-mail the truth to their neighbors, post it at work, talk to their neighbors, call their local radio station and write letters to editors.

Click here for more Reuters 2008 campaign coverage.

-Photo credit: Reuters/Joshua Lott (Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John Kerry of Massachussetts during a campaign stop in Charleston, South Carolina on Jan 10)