Examples of a Negative Campaign Backfiring?

[DUreader]

I haven't got any.

I would like some.

thanks

[DaveinMD]

1. 1992

The Bush campaign ran a very nasty campaign against Clinton, but Clinton continued to fight back and won.

The 1998 Primary for Governor. Gray Davis won because the other two candidates just kept attacking each other. Of course, this was a primary. There are others, but these came to mind.

[DUreader]

4. Thanks Dave,

not quite what I am looking for as these seem more like failed campaigns,

instead of the electorate choosing the guy getting smeared as a direct reaction

to the negative tactic.

[Mick Knox]

20. Ross Perot didnt mitigate that election?

Its foolish to pretend it had no impact.

Negative Campaigning works.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

28. You are refuting a claim that no one made.

NO ONE said: "Ross Perot didnt mitigate that election"

So who exactly is it that you are disagreeing with?

[Mick Knox]

30. I wouldnt count that

as an election example won by Positive vs Negative Campaigning because there was a 3rd serious challenger.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

31. Once again, you are misrepresenting.

The original poster did not ask for: examples won by Positive vs Negative Campaigning


The original poster did ask for: Examples of a Negative Campaign Backfiring?



perhaps you honestly don't understand the distinction.

[Archae]

2. Bob Kasten vs. Russ Feingold.

Here in WI, when Russ Feingold ran the first time, he had a positive message, while Bob Kasten, the GOP senator went negative.

Feingold boomeranged the negative stuff on Kasten and Kasten lost his ass.

Kasten's campaign manager is now working for Russ Darrow.
Same tactics.

[DUreader]

5. Sounds like something to check out, thanks

do you recall how Feingold 'boomeranged' the stuff?

[NanBo]

7. He used humor

Feingold ran some of the funniest ads that even wingnuts laughed at them. It made the negativity seem childish and inappropriate in comparison. It was BEAUTIFUL :)

[LTR]

11. Feingold learned a lot watching Wellstone

Has always cited Wellstone as a political influence, and borrowed some of his stylings for his early run.

I used to live in Minnesota, and currently in Wisconsin. I'm proud to be represented by Feingold.

[Archae]

14. Especially the "cardboard Feingold"

Feingold had a cardboard version of himself speaking the Kasten talking points, and it fell down, with a cardboard Kasten behind it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. Humor is excellent Judo . . . nt

[Myrina]

15. Feingold filmed outside Kasten's mansion ...

(paraphrase) "he says he wants to represent you ... but, uhh ... doesn't look like he's been here in awhile" ...

Stuff like that.

[markses]

3. Mark Green's negative campaign against Bloomberg

Green waited until right before the election to go very negative on dubious evidence against Michael Bloomberg. This was right after 9/11. He was quite properly defeated in the election. The campaign was disgusting and unwarranted, and a major blunder.

[DUreader]

6. Cheers, markses

I remember some of that, I'll have to check it out

[fujiyama]

17. I didn't know about that

I always thought Green lost it because of the factioning among the democrats from the primary. Then I know there was a big problem with Sharpton...

[Renew Deal]

26. Green sucked

He was such a loser of a candidate. He had nothing to offer.

[leftynyc]

29. That was my example as well

That last ad he did about Bloomberg forcing an employee to get an abortion (Kill it!! Kill it!!!) made me cringe. I firmly believe that's why he lost.

[LTR]

8. Paul Wellstone in 1990

Beat incumbent Rudy Boschwitz in 1990 with a positive and hilarious TV campaign, mostly a parody of "Roger and Me", which showed him trying to find his opponent to challenge him to a debate. The green school bus became a popular symbol around this time.

Boschwitz was a world-class scumbag who fought GOP-style nasty. A few weeks prior to the election, a group affiliated with his campaign blanketed some heavily Jewish suburbs with a letter claiming the Wellstones were bad Jews because they sent their kids to Christian schools (Boschwitz is also Jewish). It backfired terribly, and Rudy went back to the plywood business for another six years, when he lost again to Wellstone.

[DUreader]

10. DU can be great for getting info quickly, thank you

ya'll rock

[dflprincess]

32. I think Boschwitz sent this letter out the weekend before the election

I know there wasn't any time for the Wellstone camp to complain. Actually, Sheila was not Jewish and the kids had been raised as Christians, that was where the "good Jew/bad Jew" thing came from. Though, I think Jewish law says the kids aren't Jewish unless the mother is.

The Jewish community was particularily peeved about the letter. I always figured that Boschwitz not only lost the Jewish vote, he lost the "Archie Bunker" ("If I have to vote for a Jew, I'll vote for the bad one".) vote as well.

[LTR]

33. I remember the Wellstones went on TV and blasted Boschwitz over it

He was absolutely livid. And it resonated.

1990 was a weird election. The hardcore RWers helped Jon Grunseth beat the favorite, Arnie Carlson, in the GOP primary for governor. Carlson ran as an independent. Then there was Grunseth's infamous naked teenage girl hot tub party. Grunseth slithered away several weeks prior to the election, and the GOP begged Arnie to come back. He did, and wound up beating the incumbent, Rudy Perpich.

Funny thing is, I liked Arnie best out of the bunch. Though he was a Dem, Perpich was a tool. Grunseth was a hardcore RW nut. Arnie was your basic moderate Republican. One of the rare occasions I actually voted Republican in a major race.

And yes, of course I voted for Wellstone. One of the proudest votes I ever cast.

[enough]

9. Had a very clear example of that last year in a local election

for Township supervisor. I was at the polls all day and heard at least half the voters say they had changed their votes at the last minute because they were furious about the vitriolic nasty campaign run by one side. The underdog won by a large margin because of it.

I'm not sure this has any relevance to the national scene. In this case people were appalled that anyone could be so nasty and negative about their own neighbors.

[DUreader]

12. what town? Did a local paper cover it?

I'd like to read more about it.

thanks

[TheRovingGourmet]

13. I'm not sure if this fits the bill, but the Clayton Williams'

campaign against Ann Richards was pretty negative and backfired in a dramatic way but I am not sure if this was because of the negativity or because he is an asshole. His attempts at being cute with stupid remarks was disgusting in an assholish sort of way, but his refusal to shake Ann's hand took the cake.

A negative campaign working would be the race of Bush vs. Ann Richards. That one was dirty in a big way.

[Zynx]

16. We're missing our own primaries this year.

When Dean and Gephardt kept attacking eachother, Kerry and to a lesser extent Edwards were able to take advantage of it and come back from big deficits to finish first and second respectively with Dean and Gephardt at the bottom of the heap.

[Hamlette]

18. Read The Hunting of the President

During the impeachment trial Clinton had a 75% approval rating, some (most/much?) was because people thought he was being treated unfairly.

Not a "campaign" per se, but the perfect example of a backfire.

[DUreader]

21. this is great , thanks again to everyone

[oasis]

19. 1973 L.A. Mayor Sam Yorty sickened voters with his racist campaign

against challenger Tom Bradley. Yorty's long mayoral career (1961-1973) was ended by his own negative campaign.

[calico1]

23. What was the name of that little rat face

that ran against Hillary for the New York senate seat vacated by Patrick Moynihan in the last election? He was a congressman from Long Island I believe. Can't think of his name but his agressive, rude, vicious attacks against Clinton during the debates backfired BIG TIME on him. She was still First Lady at the time and I think this just shocked some people who otherwise would not have cared that much who won that he was so disresectful and vicious towards her. She totally kept her cool and made him look like the fool and weasel that he was. It gained her more support and made him lose support.

[Zynx]

24. Rick Lazio?

[calico1]

27. Yes! Rick Lazio.

[HarveyBriggs]

25. 2004 Iowa Democratic Primary

Edwards surged because he kept it clean.

Kerry let Gephart go dirty on Dean.

Kerry kept it above board.

Kerry won. Edwards came in second.

It made the ticket right there.

Harvey Briggs

[DUreader]

34. kick for happy hour

In case anyone else might use this info

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

35. Didn't backlash from the Gingrich withchunt on Clinton lead to loss of

Congress by the Repubs?