Hillary has decided to go negative. Will her negative campaigning hurt or help her?

[calteacherguy]

I think it's going to hurt her bigtime, but that's just my opinion. What's yours?

[Hippo_Tron]

1. Lets just say that she'd better have more than a kindergarten essay

[TeamJordan23]

2. and a third grade essay. nm

[calteacherguy]

8. It really shows the kind of person she is. nt

[Hippo_Tron]

12. IMO, it just confuses me more than anything

I'm not going to criticize candidates for going on the offensive. The bottom line is that it's a proven way to win elections and you don't ask people to give up something that could propel them to victory if they're interested in winning.

I have confidence that Obama will be able to handle the attacks perfectly fine and if he can't, then he's certainly not ready to handle what the Republicans have to throw at him.

But it just amazes me that Hillary would come out with something as laughable as a Kindergarten essay. 99% of the time I suggest that a candidate respond to ALL attacks seriously. This attack may have to be that 1%. Obama would do well to respond to this one by showing that he has a sense of humor.

[emilyg]

15. Same kind of person as Edwards and Obama - but a lot smarter.

[cuke]

11. Many people have corroborated Obama's near life long desire to run for President

Obama lied about just to attack Clinton, and now, when he's being called on it, the Obama supporters scream "unfair" They sound scared

[Hippo_Tron]

13. I'm certainly not screaming unfair

If all that Hillary has on Obama is that he may have been thinking about being President for a while but suggested otherwise, then she's screwed.

[hedgehog]

3. It's not so much going negative as calling it the" fun part ". nt

[emilyg]

16. I guess the sarcasm went over your head.

[ingac70]

4. Digging up shit from elementary school...

is a new low in American politics. I used to dislike her for voting to let Dubya go into Iraq. Now I have new reason to think she is a complete jerk!

[fishnfla]

5. nag, nag,nag

cackle cackle cackle

SQWACK

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[David Dunham]

6. Hurt her in IA but help her in NH where people don't know Obama

Her going negative on Obama in Iowa will "define" him for voters in NH and other states that do not know him -- much as Bush successfully "defined" Kerry in 2004.

[karynnj]

14. Bush had evil minions attack Kerry, as he said he wouldn't

the thing here is that HRC is doing it herself - especially if attacks appear unfair, it's extremely risky. She already has a pretty unlikable image. This will reinforce a lot of negative themes about her that she was supposedly living down.

All I know is that at Thanksgiving at a dinner with about 15 Democrats who all are pretty likely voters - there was more a feeling that they couldn't see any as President. One was for HRC, who he admired for a long time - it may be easier as he is out of the country as much as half the time. There were also 2 for Obama - though where they were absolutely excited about it a year ago, they were pretty quiet this year. I begin to wonder if the attacks are all working and the resulting lack of enthusiasm is the result - or if each of the top the three is really weak on some dimension.

[freesqueeze]

7. Unfortunately...

Negative always helps the status quo candidate by cutting down on participation.

[Double T]

9. THIS is the type of personality YOU want for President?

RESOUNDINGLY NO THANK YOU!!!!!!

[Bullet1987]

10. At this point to her

it is about regaining ground lost in Iowa. That's all she cares about.

[emilyg]

18. How soon we forget the Edwards and Obama started the attacks.