Negative Campaigning

Presidential candidates accuse each other of lying

Sheila Liaugminas | 14 July 2012

Great. We get calls for civility, the need to inspire Americans to unity and harmony and optimism, and in the next moment charges and counter-charges descending into uncivil and dishonest rancor, unbecoming of a leader (if we can find even one) and leaders (if we’re able to gather two or more).

Do negative campaign ads work?

Sheila Liaugminas | 18 October 2010

They work both ways. They incite repulsive backlash among a sector of the electorate sick and tired of politics as usual. And they fuel real fear and anger over government overreach and expansion into the furthest reaches of Americans’ lives. So who wins in these continuing on-air battles?