Primordial Ooze--From Whence Comest Mud to Sling

This is an interesting look at how political focus groups help campaigns decide which mud will stick...

talked to Mark Campbell, Gerlach's campaign manager, and he confirmed that his operation had used the focus group. He said other Democratic and Republican campaign committees used focus groups as well.

As Campbell explained, with a finite amount of money and time, campaigns need to "pinpoint" the most effective issues.

Frankly, I wonder why the Gerlach campaign felt it needed to pinpoint. It has been doing mailings for a while, going after Murphy on a variety of issues.

Of the 15 or so mailings I have seen, all but two rake Murphy over the coals. The other two promote positives about Gerlach.

One of my favorites is a mailing that tells us that "extremist Lois Murphy has promised to raise taxes and accept a pay raise if elected."

Now, I ask you, how many candidates do you know who run on the platform of raising their own pay?

It turns out this is a Gerlach campaign take on a Murphy statement that promised she would not accept any increase in pay if elected to Congress until it passed a law to raise the minimum wage.

So much mud to throw, so little time.

Lois Murphy?

Extremist!!???

It would be nice to think that candidates who took the high road would get credit for it from voters at the polls. When will voters decide they've had enough of this sort of thing?

Article forwarded by Alice Fling, with added comments by Karen L.

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