Politics 101: Criticizing Your Opponent Makes Her Less Popular

[ProSense]

Politics 101: Criticizing Your Opponent Makes Her Less Popular

In the wake of Sarah Palin’s nomination, a surprising number of people — some of whom weren’t even operating in bad faith — suggested that the smart thing to do when faced with a popular political opponent would be to avoid attacking her, lest the attacks cause a backlash. Looking at the Research 2000 tracking poll data, however, confirms common sense — when you attack someone, she becomes less popular:



That’s her net favorable rating over time.

It was probably a combination of legitimate criticism and seeing Palin make a fool of herself on national TV.

[billybob537]

1. When will we see the"LEAVE SARAH ALONE" youtube?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu_jv-isGSA&feature=related

[ContinentalOp]

2. LOL, thank you! B..b..but we should have IGNORED her. -nt-

[Larkspur]

3. That's what I've been saying

People claim that they don't like negative ads but they work.

Palin did help us with her blatant lies and faux pas, but you don't throw your opponent a rope to save them when you can throw them an anchor, an anchor they made themselves.

[ProSense]

6. Negative alone doesn't do it,

especially if it doesn't come off as credible and there is an effective counter. That's the problem McCain is having. One of the reasons the negative ads worked in 2004 was that the media gave the GOP smears credibility, and it was difficult for Kerry to fight the media single-handedly. Media frenzies (Wright, etc.) are hard to get under control (easier when the truth is on your side, but the media has to cooperate to a degree). Obama, for example, was able to distance himself by denouncing Wright. One good thing is the blogs are more vibrant and visible now than they were years ago.

[liberalmuse]

4. I was one of them.

I thought it was a bad idea to go after Palin. "Go after McCain instead." I said. I'm glad to have been proven wrong in such a manner.

[yardwork]

5. I know that many people making this argument acted in good faith.

However, they were wrong. The right-wing had a clear motive to encourage Democrats to ignore Palin. Fortunately most Democrats ignored them.

[Alexander]

7. We need to keep attacking both of them until they can't get elected to anything any more.

I want her and McCain's negative ratings to go through the roof.