RIP, positive ads
A full 86 percent of Obama’s television advertising and 79 percent of Romney’s has been negative, according to the Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks political advertising. By comparison, Obama and John McCain had spent an average of 69 percent of their TV budgets on negative ads by this point in 2008, and George W. Bush and John Kerry had spent 58 percent in 2004.
The record-setting rancor reflects the circumstances of the 2012 race: Obama couldn’t run on an economic rebound, and some of his biggest legislative accomplishments, such as his health care law, are unpopular in the polls. Romney has tried to persuade the American people to fire the incumbent — but has been light on details of his own.
“The dynamic of this election is such that each campaign wants the race to be a referendum on the other guy, and therefore the mass of the communications is designed to disqualify each other,” said Mark McKinnon, George W. Bush’s former ad man.
Blowback
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What’s a positive ad.
RickB on November 4, 2012 at 7:18 PM
Republicans have to run negative ads as the media will not report negatively on Democrats. Democrats do not need to run positive ads as the media is already doing that for them.
Want less negative ads? Then do more honest, that is negative, reporting of Democrats. It will allow Republicans to do less negative ads and force Democrats to do more positive.
Rocks on November 4, 2012 at 7:19 PM
But the negativity hasn’t been the same. Romney’s ads focus on Obama’s record…Obama’s, on the other hand, have been nasty personal attacks meant solely to divide. That’s a lousy way to try to win an election, imo.
changer1701 on November 4, 2012 at 7:20 PM
Why is it that just because Romney accurately points out that Obama is a failure is it considered negative?
behiker on November 4, 2012 at 7:21 PM
I’m surprised it was that low.
Left Coast Right Mind on November 4, 2012 at 7:22 PM
This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AG5PMHh7Yfw
Don’t tell Politico. If they lack the journalistic ethics to check one of the two major campaigns websites before making their false declaration, then they deserve to go the way of Newsweak.
They sold out to the DNC a long time ago as it is.
Alberta_Patriot on November 4, 2012 at 7:24 PM
Wait…what, a guy who says “Vote to get revenge is running negative ads?
Bishop on November 4, 2012 at 7:25 PM
Politico would call THIS a negative ad…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-IBF8nwSY
wildcat72 on November 4, 2012 at 7:27 PM
I’ve put up with almost four straight years of a nasty political ad, don’t start whining now Politico.
Cindy Munford on November 4, 2012 at 7:35 PM
journolist/politico…HA! Believed by none….linked by few…
winston on November 4, 2012 at 7:39 PM
Usually, with a repub uses a dims own words against them, that’s considered a negative ad.
Thomas More on November 4, 2012 at 7:45 PM
I wish I could say RIP to obnoxious hand-wringing over our combative political system. I wonder if dunder-heads were wetting their panties in 1800 over the viciousness of the race between Jefferson and Adams.
NotCoach on November 4, 2012 at 7:46 PM
Well, as that election caused the eventual VP to murder the opposing Veep candidate in a duel, resulting in a massive scandal in its’ own right, I’d say that election was worse.
Myron Falwell on November 4, 2012 at 7:59 PM
Excellent point, just one small quibble: Hamilton never was a candidate for VP. In fact he was never eligible to be president or VP.
NotCoach on November 4, 2012 at 8:14 PM
Oh please ..has been negatively defining Romney for two years and using the power of the Presidency.
CW on November 4, 2012 at 8:25 PM
Myron Falwell on November 4, 2012 at 7:59 PM
In the big picture Hamilton won Burr’s political ambitions were ended which is what Hamilton stood on the field of honer to do.
Slowburn on November 4, 2012 at 9:48 PM