We know what a lot of people will be doing on the day after Election Day: Wringing their hands about the low voter turnout.
Many factors contribute to that, including pure, old-fashioned apathy. But the most conspicuous self-inflicted wound on the political system has to be the nasty campaigning here in Illinois and across the country.
Negative ads abound, which is nothing new. But this year, according to a recent study, we’re seeing a higher proportion of ads that attack not an opponent’s voting record, but the very essence of the opponent. About 1 in 5 ads target personal characteristics of a candidate, the Wesleyan Media Project has found.
Negative ads can be effective, at least initially. And to an extent they do inform us. Mark Kirk’s resume embellishments and Alexi Giannoulias’ failed family bank are legitimate issues. But their cumulative effect, multiplied by many candidates and more ad buys by independent groups, discourage Americans from taking the time and trouble to cast their ballots.
Sometimes that’s by cynical design. A recent ad from a conservative operative told Hispanic voters to stay home rather than vote for Democrats, “Because that’s the only way to send them a clear message.” Shameful. The Wesleyan group has found that Democrats have been more likely to get personal during the current election cycle than Republicans. Our sense is that the mud fully flows both ways.
A Colorado anti-abortion ad targeting a ballot initiative shows President Barack Obama morphing into the Angel of Death. Democrat U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida dubbed his right-leaning opponent, “Taliban Dan.”
Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul has denounced an opposition ad that’s based on anonymous reports that when he was in college he told a woman to worship a deity called Aqua Buddha. That ad apparently backfired; Paul has risen in the polls since it was released.
More anecdotal evidence that negative ads can reflect poorly on the candidate who employs them: U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson of Illinois has run a condescending campaign that paints her opponent as both a callow youth and a political hack. For good measure, ads Photoshopped her challenger, Adam Kinzinger, a 32-year-old military veteran, into a frame with the flag of communist China.
Did it work? Voters will give us the final word on Tuesday, but polling suggests that Halvorson is now one of the most endangered Democrats on the ballot.
Negative campaign advertising won’t go away. But you do have to think it’s reaching a saturation point.
The hope here is that voters will tune out the wall-to-wall character assassination and turn out to vote.
