As dust settles, voters cite campaign’s negativity
Voters were frustrated by a 2012 presidential race they called more negative than usual and more devoid of substantive discussion of issues, according to a survey released Thursday by the Pew Research Center. …
Two-thirds of registered voters surveyed after Election Day said they believe relations between Democrats and Republicans will stay the same or worsen over the coming year.
Optimism over President Obama’s chances for success stands at 56 percent, down from the 67 percent who envisioned success for the newly elected Democratic president four years ago.
An election marked by superPACs and negative ads left 68 percent of those surveyed saying there was more “negative campaigning and mudslinging” than normal, compared to 54 percent just four years ago. That neared the 72 percent who called the 2004 race between President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry as more negative than normal, and tied the 68 percent who viewed the 1992 contest between President George H.W. Bush, Democrat Bill Clinton and independent Ross Perot that way.
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Honestly, these voters can shut up. More substantive campaigns? Look at the guy they re-elected, who never once put forward a serious budget and instead harped on the Bush tax cuts which he himself extended.
All this election proved is that these voters will get even more negative, substance free campaigns in the future.
Daemonocracy on November 16, 2012 at 6:47 PM
I hate voters.
Mark1971 on November 16, 2012 at 6:52 PM
Of course there was a lot of negativity and you guys reelected the guy waging one of the most negative campaigns ever.
Hmmm… could these two points be related?
Valkyriepundit on November 16, 2012 at 6:59 PM
The saddest part is they’ll still be blaming Boooosh, Gaaaaaffes, and the greedy Juice when it all comes crashing down around them.
They really believe they are winners for voting for the man who will make them us all losers. Just look at Mo and the other progressive loons on this site. Absolutely delusional. It’ll be interesting to see if they’re still commenting in favor of progressive democrats when the party has enough non-white-male constituents that it turns on them as well.
WeekendAtBernankes on November 16, 2012 at 7:06 PM
Some 85% of Obama’s ads were judged to be negative, and many of those were flat-out personal attacks, full of lies and nastiness. As in, “Mitt Romney: not one of us.”
Please voters, get a clue. If you don’t like something, then don’t encourage it by voting for the perpetrator. And thanks for giving us President Jerk (not the four-letter word I wanted to use) for another four years.
Meredith on November 16, 2012 at 7:08 PM
[Intercourse] them.
andycanuck on November 16, 2012 at 7:46 PM