Question for the experienced people on here

[AllentownJake]

If a challenger is running positive ads and an incumbent is running negative ads does that mean the incumbent doesn't like his/her internals?

This is about a local congressional race

[WheelWalker]

1. It means the incumbent doesn't like the challenger.

[AllentownJake]

3. k

Got two mailing the democrat was all happy and nice and talking about reform. The GOP mailing was calling the democrat Scam Bennet (her name is Sam).

Odd thing is they go to the same church.

[last1standing]

2. In a local race you're probably right.

In a standard race the candidate out in front wants to solidify his reputation while the one behind slings mud trying to bring him down. That is exactly what mcLIAR did about a month ago. Sadly, it worked to an extent.

[flowomo]

4. not necessarily....

for some people, going negative is the only way to go, ever. It depends somewhat on what you mean by "negative" -- if you mean "criticizing the opponent" as opposed to "talking about yourself," then no. If you mean "throwing mud in a way that could cause a lot of back splatter" -- well, that's risky and may suggest anything from concern to desperation. Sometimes an incumbent just wants to run up the score to position him/herself for a future run at something bigger.

[AllentownJake]

5. possible

Charlie Dent is a right leaning moderate. He might be positioning himself for Govenor or Senator if Spectre retires. He might be running up the score for fundraising points for the 2010 higher office primary races.


The 15th district is considered the swing district in PA. You win it you probably won the state.

[flowomo]

6. oh, you're from PA... well consider this:

When Bob Casey (the senator's father) was running for re-election against then Auditor General Barbara Hafer, he was clearly going to win. Nonetheless, the insisted on not just beating her, but murdering her in their ads and speeches. I was covering that campaign and remembered being surprised at how ungracious it seemed. Casey could have afforded to be more generous toward his unlikely opponent -- but he just hammered and hammered. So you never know. But running up the margin is often a motive.

[AllentownJake]

7. PA is nasty

My district especially so...what I don't understand is we have voted democratic since 1988 yet we have only had one democrat in congress since 1988 and he is now an undersecretary of Homeland Security for Bush.

[merh]

8. I'd say if poll numbers are bad, the campaign goes negative

and then really negative - sadly, studies show that negative ads work so they are going with the tried and true.