LAT: GOP unleashing attack ads; mudslinging crucial to midterm strategy

[DeepModem Mom]

Republican Campaigns Set to Sling Mud
Hoping to deflect attention from Iraq, candidates unleash the attack ads. Hey — they do get voters’ attention, consultants say.
By Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer
September 26, 2006

....While President Bush and national GOP leaders are attacking Democrats on such big issues as national security and America's role in the world, individual Republicans are hitting their opponents hard — below the belt, some critics say — on personal and local issues.

Negative campaigning is hardly new, and Democrats are dishing dirt against Republicans too. But mudslinging is crucial to the Republican plan for this year's midterm elections, because the party's hold on power will probably hinge on shifting attention from the unpopular war in Iraq and other national issues that cut against them.

"When people are looking at national issues that are not breaking our way, what you want to do is focus on your opponent," said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a former Republican National Committee chief of staff. "You've got to play the field's conditions. They demand very tough tactics."

Cole spelled out that approach in a recent strategy memo to House Republicans: "Define your opponent immediately and unrelentingly.... Do not let up — keep the tough ads running right up to election day. Don't make the mistake of pulling your ads in favor of a positive rotation the last weekend."

Republican incumbents this year began running attack ads earlier than ever. But the hardest-hitting are yet to come....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-negads26sep26,0,107252.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Trajan]

1. Hard Hitting = ....

A bunch of cheap lies; conjured by liars and professed by liars .....

[Pirate Smile]

4. I love that picture of Mike Stark slamming Hannity. That guy has an

amazing knack for getting on the air, usually radio, and just nailing Republicans.

He has something cooking in the VA Senate race. My Mom donated some $$$ to help with it (he posted a Diary on it on Daily Kos) but we don't know what he is planning to do. Hmmm. I wonder if he has anything to do with the latest round of Allen stories?

[truthisfreedom]

2. yawn. this won't bring out their base. attack ads don't invigorate their

base. they're going to irritate our base and bring them out even more.

[Garbo 2004]

3. Yeah, John Doolittle has ads running against Charlie Brown here in CA.

But ironically the Doolittle campaign's also placed the ads on Sacramento's two progressive radio stations. At first hearing them I was like WTF? And then, heh, cool they're paying money that supports progressive radio stations, LOL, while the local hosts tear the ads apart and talk about Doolittle's record, Abramoff, etc.

Doolittle must be running scared. He's even got Shrub coming to the area on his behalf at a time when some other Repubs are pretending they don't know who he is.

[kurth]

5. Dems should do the same

Politics is a dirty sport. Play, or lose.