Negative ads leave undecideds decidedly unmoved

Source: AP

Negative ads leave undecideds decidedly unmoved
By JIM KUHNHENN
Associated Press Writer

If John McCain and Barack Obama think their ads blasting each other are persuading undecided voters, they're probably wrong. But negative ads do have an impact, an AP-Knowledge Networks poll suggests, even if it's just to neutralize the other guy's attacks.

They can also solidify support - or simply turn voters off to both candidates.

In a new survey, voters were asked to watch two of the presidential candidates' negative ads, an Obama spot that says McCain would tax health benefits and a McCain ad that claims Obama wants "massive government." The campaigns have spent millions of dollars on such ads with millions more committed for the last two weeks before Election Day.

On the whole, adwatchers who went into the experiment undecided were unmoved. About 60 percent of so-called "persuadable" voters said the ads made them no more or less likely to vote for McCain or Obama. And about a third appeared to throw up their hands, saying they were less likely to vote for either candidate after watching the ads.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/445/story/851015.html

McCain says Obama wants massive government which is just plain false and it is classified as the same thing as Obama's.. That damn "Liberal Media"

And meanwhile, how could ANYBODY be undecided at this juncture???

Reality is unfairly skewed against them. Truthfulness is one of those liberal values. That's why Bush and Cheney never cared about the ground truth in Iraq. They were "making their own reality." (And one day Bush will announce he's going to turn Iraq into the kingdom of Narnia.)

And, of course, if you tell the truth about Sarah Palin, well, that's going extremely negative.

To make truth seem just six of one half a dozen of the other.

of disengaging the electorate. People tend to tune out and not vote as a result of negative campaigning. Since fewer people voting usually increases the chances of Repukes getting elected, this is one of their 'strategies'. Not surprising that the undecideds are pulling away.