We’re learning of another political consequence in the post-Citizens United era – dirty campaigning. According to an analysis by the Washington Post – negative advertising in the Republican primary has skyrocketed this year compared to four years ago. In 2008 – just 6% of campaign ads were negative – but this year it’s above 50%.
The reason why….SuperPACs. Now that candidates don’t have to take responsibility for their ads – corporate-funded SuperPACs with treasure chests and unknown donors can carpet bomb TV stations with negative ads and no consequences. It’s how Mitt Romney won Florida – running 13,000 mostly negative TV ads against Newt Gingrich's 200.
72% of the money spent this year by SuperPACs has gone straight to negative advertising – and research has shown that negative ads disgust people and therefore reduce voter turnout. So expect the Republican candidate to launch endless negative ads, because if there’s one thing Republican political strategists hate – it’s high voter turnout.
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Could it be that they have nothing positive to say, even about themselves?
And David Koch did announce he and his club members were going to increase spending on winning their war against democracy.