The McCain campaign KNOWS that negative campaigning will give them 3-5% poll points

[zulchzulu]

Despite what anyone is saying, the McCain campaign (under the knowing hand of Karl Rove) know that their negative campaigning and schizophrenic behavior with extremely negative ads combined with a perceived "dialing back" on negative statements in campaign events will get them at least 3% poll points just because negative campaigning works.

Watching Rick Davis on Fox News (a guy who was taking checks from Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac interests last month) bring in McCain's POW service at a time when George Wallace was venting hatred and demanding an apology from Obama on Lewis' statement and then bringing up Ayers in almost the same sentence shows just how unbecoming the McCain campaign is. They try to play the theme that they are improving and go right back to inciting hate in their statements.

McCain tries to play the act that he's a "decent guy" and then almost in the next sentence go ahead and attack Obama with the same false messages th negative ads are spewing. He and the campaign want it both ways and it's obvious that they are just going for the voter that would rather cater to their inner racist laziness.

That's why we need to hammer back at the McCain campaign with all cannons blazing. Boots to the neck.

[Marsala]

1. Negative campaigning does work, but character attacks don't

At least they haven't worked for McCain so far, and they seem to be backfiring. Nobody cares about Ayers, so McCain looks pitiful and desperate. And now the insanity of McCain's mobs has become an issue. Total backfire.

[Essene]

7. especially when you've already lost the trust of people...

[endthewar]

14. Obama did a good job of warning people that they would do this

I think that's why it's not working this year. :patriot:

[zulchzulu]

8. If they continue with the same negaitve campaigning over 20+ days...

... they will close the gap...

Obama ads need to really hammer back in all directions with a reintroduction of tying the Iraq War with the economy, his Keating Five scandal, his gaffes with the economic storm we're in, his alliance with Bush over the last eight years and even his health and age with Palin a heartbeat away. It has to be overwhelming, much like the end of a Fourth of July fireworks celebration where the sky is filled... so many targets that the McCain campaign wouldn't be able to withstand...

It is time to punish the McCain campaign with all the cannons loaded and hitting targets.

[Bullet1987]

11. It may change maybe a few percentage points...but not within 1-2 points

At least I hope not. McCain is even having to scale back on his attacks since his rallies are looking like lynch mobs. If he continues on this path for 20+ days, someone is going to get hurt...and that won't look good on McCain/Palin AT ALL. Negative campaigning is one thing, calling someone a terrorist and all this other crazy stuff is something else.

[randr]

9. Anyone moved by the negativity is already voting for Mcshame

[bkinsd]

2. I think you are wrong on this point

Under the current economic conditions no one cares about personal attacks. That approach is simply not going to work. All you have to do is listen to what pundits from both sides of the aisle are saying. Even Bill Kristol is saying it won't work this time around.

[C_U_L8R]

3. They've overlooked the minus sign

it looks like McCain's negative campaigning is
having a negative effect on his own campaign.

Blowback is a bitch... especially when it's crap.

[Higher Standard]

4. The question is when he's gotten those 3-5% points

How can we know that his current numbers don't already reflect the 3-5% point support and that his numbers might not be even lower if not for the negative campaigning?

[wishlist]

5. Watching mainstream TV in a close state, I dread effect of McCains ads

McCain campaign will be effective in decreasing Obama votes here in NC if the smear and fear ads continue in such an unrelenting way (plus the influence of all the conservative churches here.) All we can hope is that with the economy tanking, McCain running out of ad money and people getting fed up with unjustified smears, it won't work so well this time.

[zulchzulu]

10. Exactly... here in Wisconsin, the McCain ads are nauseating and very prevalent

No matter what the McCain campaign is saying about how they mmight go "back to the issues", their ads are playing a LOT. Yes, there are Obama ads as well, but the McCain ads are bound to raise enough negative perception to close up the race here.

[Essene]

6. mccain has been 100% negative for 3 months. it isnt working...

relax :)

and rove is not in control. im sure he talks to the campaign and some of his disciples are involved, but if rove were in charge we'd see romney up there, not palin.

[L. Coyote]

12. They will not win otherwise? Obama over 50% has unique demands on tactics!

They are reacting to their dilemna. McCain's handlers know he is losing by ah historic landslide, as Obama climbs over 50%, a handicap unseen since Goldwater lost 49 states.

[kevinds13]

13. Its not working the way they're going about it.

People see it as one of three things:
1. Character assassination
2. Full on racism
3. Awesome


Obviously #3 is the wingnuts. However, 2 only works on people Obama wasn't gonna sway anyway and independents don't like 1.

So how does this get him 3-5 points when ALL its doing is rallying the base?