Nasty Campaign Ad Spending Beats Nice 10:1

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/31/politics/main2140820.shtml

(AP) So far this campaign, the political parties have exposed voters to nearly $160 million in ads attacking congressional candidates. How much spent painting a positive image? About $17 million.

That's just over $1 of nice for every $10 of nasty.

The message ingrained in such a disparity in numbers: Don't vote for a candidate; vote against the opponent.

Negative ads are the coin of the realm in politics. With one week left in the campaign, voters will continue to be bombarded on television, in the mail and over the phone as political strategists make their closing arguments to a shrinking pool of those who haven't made up their minds.


FULL story at CBS link above.

[hedgehog]

1. The real problem is vote suppression

as in "why bother to vote - all those politicians are the same." We need to point out which side is slinging mud and which is talking issues. FWIW, noting that a Republican candidate has consistently supported Bush is not slinging mud!

[Lindacooks]

2. Here's the real test: Is the negative ad the TRUTH, or simply

innuendo and distortion?

Every negative repuke ad I have seen lies and distorts. Every 'negative' democratic ad I have seen is just the truth.