Negative ads cause Iowa backlash

[demdave]

DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Recent polls and interviews indicate Iowa's Democrats are fed up with candidates' negative ad campaigns for the presidential nomination.

In fact, negative ads may have hurt the candidates who ran them more than those they targeted, the Miami Herald reported.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who recently lost his wide lead in Iowa polls, started the negativity with ads criticizing fellow candidates Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.; Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.; and Rep. Richard Gephart, D-Mo., for voting in favor of the war against Iraq.

http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/01180000aaa03f31.upi&Sys=rmmiller&Fid=NATIONAL&Type=News&Filter=National%20News

[aquart]

1. We kept saying, be negative only to Bush.

Perhaps this will be a lesson to them all.

[Born Free]

13. Blame it on the ads

The democratic candidates, as well as right wing groups gang up on Dean , then when it appears to have an affect, they blame it on Dean running negative ads. Give me a break!

[stickdog]

2. Dean started the negative ads?

What about Gephardt?

[demdave]

3. I think you are missing the point

the only person not slinging dirt is Edwards and his numbers have risen steadily.

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. Kucinich isn't slinging dirt

Does that puncture the thesis of this thread?

"FUCK Bush" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[Hobarticus]

6. Yeah, but Edwards has a snowball's chance.

Sorry, not to be mean, but the coffee's on. Dennis needs to smell it.

[Cronus Protagonist]

8. Sure, but the thesis is that those who don't sling dirt get a boost

Not happening with Dennis, is it? So the premise/thesis that Edwards boost is because he's not going negative is false.

I think Edward's boost is due to DLC work behind the scenes. He's the one they want, IMHO.

"FUCK Bush" Buttons, Stickers & Magnets

[Hobarticus]

9. You're probably right, about Edwards.

But I still think that most believe that running a positive campaign counts for something, especially when you're trailing.

Seriously, what will Joe Leiberman be remembered for, besides a lot of bitching?

People want to hear what a candidate will do, not about the other guys.

And I will give Kucinich props, he ran a clean show too.

[candy331]

5. Iowans need to get in the real

world. They have more people coming to the caucuses than ever before, estimated at double last caucus. What in the hell do they think is getting these people there, the pussyfooting, Bushlites,the Bush enablers? I think they woke up but was lulled back to sleep by listening to the media and the nice guy speech of the Bush enablers. No you don't have to get dirty when someone goes ahead of you and clear the way.

[Hobarticus]

7. "Iowans in the real world"?

Firmly here in the real world here in Iowa, but I can't make heads of tails of your post. What are you saying?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. And we're supposed to believe an article from UPI, now owned...

...by News World Communications - also the owner of the Washington Times? And you know who owns the Washington Times, don't you? That's right...Reverend Sun Myung Moon.

You need to remember that the NeoCon rightwingers will do ANYTHING, to include planting false reports and polls in the media, to discourage the growth of a backbone in the Democratic Party. They want the Democratic Party kept docile and manageable.

Remember Helen Thomas? She resigned from UPI when it was bought by News World Communications.

Here's an article everyone on DU needs to read:

Veteran journalist quits White House
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/751363.stm>

"A veteran of the White House press corps has resigned from her post following the sale of her news agency, UPI, to a company linked with the Unification Church of Reverend Sun Myung Moon.

Helen Thomas, who has covered White House affairs since the 1960s, did not say whether she was upset by the sale of UPI to News World Communications - also the owner of the Washington Times - but reports said she had strong objections.

News World Communications, which was founded by the Reverend Moon, said it planned to continue to operate UPI as an independent news organisation."

Folks, now is the time to get angry and do something about it and quit listening to anything reported by the lapdog mainstream press.

[Voltaire99]

11. I agree -- and then some!

If anyone thinks "the people" are tired of negativity, just ask yourself how the Republicans find themselves fully in control of government.

Clue: it wasn't their winning personalities.

[OHdem10]

12. Something fishy here

Dean was the one most beaten up with ads. Last week the TV people were telling us Dean was gettin hit going and coming. The ads against him hurt him--Now they turn it around. Negative ads work because he was by by all the cnadidates at once. Plus the Meida pouncing on over and over.

Somebody better line up their stories in a truthful manner. How about the cover up is worse than the Crime Media. We know something has haoppened there. Please fo not make up stories. It is better to say nothing than try to feed us mush.

[rsdsharp]

14. Iowa is a little different

Every four years Iowans are inundated with political ads from about Halloween until caucus night. With the exception of New Hampshire, and possibly North Carolina, no other state has that kind of barrage, or this kind of access to the candidates. We'll go back to being fly over country about 9:00 tonight, but right now it's not too tough to see a candidate on the street, let alone on TV. (I damn near ran over Steve Forbes eight years ago.)

Negative ads work, yes, but Iowans ARE tired of the ads, especially the negative ones. Some of the movement is probably a result of attack ads on Dean, his replies, and Edwards' play nice strategy. But part of it is also because people are just now making up their minds -- partly in response to these latest ads.

Keep in mind that Dean has run more ads, longer than any other candidate. It's natural for him to have had a recognition factor lead. The others have only been saturating the TV within the last 2-3 weeks. All of this means that loyalties are shifting, and will continue to shift until the FINAL count tonight. If they counted after that, the numbers would probably shift again.

Iowans are a contrary lot. In fact, "Undecided" is a viable vote in Iowa, and beat all candidates in the 1972 and 1976 Democratic caucuses. I doubt it will happen tonight, but you never know.