Amid Clinton-Obama struggle, Americans see campaign as too negative

Slug fest? Walk in the park? Lollapalooza? Snore?

Half of Americans surveyed say the presidential campaign has grown too negative.

That's a remarkable shift from February, when 28% viewed the contest as too negative. So that's nearly doubled in less than two months.

The unresolved conflict between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -- with the intensifying crossfire between them, the "misstated" story of the Bosnia landings, the "incendiary" words of the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., the "3 a.m. phone call" and the "bitter" working-class voters in small towns -- probably has a lot to do with that.

The Washington-based Pew Research Center has a new report out saying that "perceptions about the tone of the campaign ... have changed dramatically over the past two months.''

And it is the view of Democrats that has changed dramatically. Half of Democrats surveyed say the campaign has been too negative, compared with 19% saying so in February.

"Democrats are now about as likely as Republicans and independents to say the campaign is too negative," Pew says. "In February, they were much less likely than Republicans and independents to express this view."

And get this: "While an increasing percentage of Americans sees the campaign as too negative, more also say it is dull and too long. About a third (35%) says the campaign is dull, up from 25% in February."

Too long? Too long? We're not even three-quarters of the way through this 23-month, $2-billion extravaganza.

-- Mark Silva

Mark Silva writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau.

Comments

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

She started it.

[jy2008]

Hahahahahahahahaahahaahhaahahahha
You have got to believe this.
So much to say. Let us lay it out one by one
http://www.newsweek.com/id/133557/page/4

said Davis, who was friendly with Palmer at the time.
"She went out and recruited Barack."
...................
She filed petitions to get on the ballot for the spring 1996 primary,
but Obama took steps to make sure voters wouldn't get a chance to pick her.
...................

1. Is this so called NEW politics?
No one blames you if just say it is politics.
You call it new politics? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

2. Good, Bad, and Ugly
Someone tells you where treasure is.
It is fine you just take all and run away.
But instead you kill that poor person.
Wow, speechless
What a character

3. Gentleman
He is really a 'nice gentleman'
fight hard with Woman with SKILLs
You follower should be very proud. LOL

More coming.....

[Bob]

Yes the 50% that think it is negitive is the Obama people.

Mr. Obama is only seeing alittle of what is to come this fall he better be prepared.

As for me I am hoping for a Hillary Third Party Ticket and she will win !!

[Bobby]

I think after may 6, if Obama wins both Indiana and North Carolina, which is very likely, then most of the Clinton supporters and democratic party will come to the full realization that Obama is the democratic nominee. I dont fully expect another 2 months of this. Of course Hillary can stay in this for as long as she wants but as each remaining state votes it will be exponentially harder for her to make a case and people will begin lining up behind Obama. Hopefully then he can bring back the positive tone or mood of the campaign. Vote for Obama because this time is different.

[Jason]

honestly I feel as far as the ad campaigns have gone Obama has been more on the positive side while Clinton has focused on the negative. ironically it's her calling out Obama on his lack of experience but I'm confused as to how she believes she has a significant advantage in that department. Does first lady really count as significant experience? My two cents.

[S Scott]

I believe both candidates have polarized themselves. Neither is electable at this stage. The 2008 Presidential election should be an easy win for Democrats.

It is my hope that the super delegates will take a long hard look at the candidates and decide that a third option is necessary to secure the Presidency. I believe John Edwards is the best chance the Democrats have at this time. His main flaw seems to be that he hired an image team that was a bit expensive (haircut scandal). Personally I don't care how much he pays for his haircuts as long as he can do a good job as President.

[Amare Gebre]

What you are saying contradicts the voting reallity. People are showing up to vote in millions and you are saying it is negative and dull. If voters think it is dull and negative they stay home rather than out pouring to vote. Make sense in what you say dude.
Regards, Amare

[Roger Griffin]

If this isn't the truth! Why is it these people think they need to destroy someone in order to win? Where is their sense of humanity and decency? What are their values? Sad to say, they are on display for all to see.

[isahbiazhar]

Negative indeed! It did not measure to its original outcome.

[Christopher Xaphakdy]

Too long, and too negative, particularly from Sen. Clinton. She has principally been emphasizing so much on negative aspects of personal who said what, when and how it was said and has dramatized it for her political advantage, rather than substances of the issues that matter to most people.

[cm grigg]

Americans always complain about negativity. Then they vote for the most negative candidate and say the less negative candidate wasn't willing to do what it took to win. Until we do a better job as citizens in a corporate/ media dominated state we deserve no better than the Bush/Clinton system of separate and govern.

[Joe]

I would definitely agree. I am a long time Republican that was going to vote Democrat this fall. I was doing this for one reason only and that was to get us out of Iraq. However based on the negativity of both Democrats I will probably just vote for McBush. I may still vote for Obama if he wins but never for Clinton.

[ed fairness]

Polls on issues about a campaign being too negative, dull or long add little to our understanding. Obama's advisors finally publicly released a document puporting to address questions about his electability. They deserve credit for finally conceding this represents a real issue. All delegates now need to review whether the Democrats will win with an Obama /Clinton ticket, a Clinton/ Obama ticket or some other arrangement. The arguments advanced by Obama's advisors fail to address his problem with Catholics, Jews and older voters. Neither Indiana's nor North Carolina's outcome will prove very helpful. Everyone now knows Obama will likely lose Ohio, Micigan Florida and Pa., and will face real trouble in New Jersey, New York and even Massachusetts. A truly transformational candidate will acknowledge that reality, withdraw from the Presidential race, request consideration for the VP slot, and position himself for eight years out while helping the Democrats and the Natiion.

[Matthhewm]

I do feel the campaign has turned to negative. I think Barrack Obama should drop out. It would be best for the party.

[Leon A Davis]

We've all heard the expression, "politics makes strange bedfellows". Pardon me for bringing up the unfortunate image, but who in their wildest imagination couild imagine Shaun Hannity and Rush Limbaugh promoting Hillary and Bill Clinton? Limbaugh and Hillary? Must be the navy blue pantsuits. Before he started trashing Obama I used to listen to Limbaugh every day. Just can't do it anymore. Flipped him on today to see if he was making any sense and the first thing out of Limbaugh's mouth was a comment about Obama's "racist white grandmother". That's an exact quote. Flipped him back off. Now I'm a older white male conservative, and if these guys are alienating me with personal attacks on Obama, imagine the reaction of more moderate voters. I might disagree with much of Barack's politics, but he is an honorable man.who I trust will do the right thing when it really matters. Hillary and Bill Clinton are corrupt to the core. Money and power are all that matter to these two. I'm ashamed that two political commentators who I have up to this point admired, have come down on the side of corruption.

[Mara]

The Clintons have run the most revoting campaign I have ever seen in my life. They seem to forget that they are running with the Democratic party and not against a Republican opponent. They've destroyed the only viable Democrat - and guaranteed another 4 years of war and thrown the promise of health care away AGAIN for at least another four years. That makes 20 years now. SHe has destroyed the hope of health care for million of Americans who could have had it - if not for the hubris and blinding ambition of Hillary Clinton who cares about nothing and no one but herself.

[Isn't this news]

saw this in another blog comment, but if Rezko was news, isn't this? I have seen no coverage anywhere.

There's a hearing today (April 25) in LA, in a fraud case where Hillary Clinton and Bill are being sued. Allegations include false filings with the FEC, and irregularities in fund raising in the first senate race. The case is Peter Paul vs Clinton.

Here's what the other blog post mentioned:

Peter Paul now has been granted an appeal based on new videotape evidence which he says contradicts both their previous testimony. His side of the story can be found if you Google "Hillary Uncensored." Watch the video, look at how many stars were there; they are being deposed and giving testimony under oath now.

Go to www.lasuperiorcourt.org (Los Angeles Superior Court) and look in the CIVIL Column, then Click on CASE SUMMARIES then enter these numbers in the box BC304174. It is an active case and has been since January.

[Abe Guler]

I am astounded at the political savvy of the average blogger! Save one thing: the spelling! What does the spelling (or misspelling!) reveal?

It's easy it says the blogger dropped out of the 4th grade against his will. Too bad, we lost many potential Pulitzers, and may be even for Nobel’s for winging it.

I suppose because the typing is easy I will keep on typing regardless of what I reveal.

Dodo Bird

[NOOBama]

Obama wins the red states and loses them in November, Obama loses the Blue states and loses them in November, Obama loses the KEY swing states and loses those in November.How is he suppose to win? He won't! And this negativity, brought about by this candidate, who without doubt, is the most polarizing candidate in memory, should drop out. He has even divided his own party. He has put down white people, with "typical whiteperson" comments, put down working class Americans, and when he was not saying anything, his minister of 20 years was saying plenty to slur America and Americans.. All based on "Black theology". Obama must drop out of this race. He is not electable. And it would end this negativity brought about by his racist comments and his minister/mentors comments. He is ahead by default. We do not want him anymore as our nominee. Please drop out!

[GS]

Be careful here...

The media/press and the OBAMA campaign RELY very heavily on these POLLS!

They might start believing them! Just like the polls that said Obama cut Clinton's lead to 4% in PA. and all the other polls that never got it right!

[Texas Democrat]

Obama and ONLY Obama is responsible for the loss that WILL happen if he is the nominee. Most of the Democrats voted before they knew who Obama was. Now they know and many want their votes back! This is not Hillary Clintons fault. And it is time Obama took responsibility for Wright, Ayers, his San Franscico comments and even his wife's comments. All lead to a no win here for Obama. He was very inexperienced so his Unity rhetoric was his crutch. And that crutch is now broken. Obama, if the nominee, is resonsible for the loss. And if voted for and endorsed by the Super Delegates and DNC, which know all of this as well as the fact he cannot win in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, and today, it looks like Missouri has been added; then it is their fault, too.

[Heather]

Hillary has done everything she could to drag this race to the dumps. Everytime Obama takes the high road, Hillary lashes out on him from the pits, I mean the dung pits.She has been splashing in that dirty water around too long. Both Clintons stink at this point. Hillary with her lies about sniper fire and Bill with his comments about jesse Jackson and Obama being black to win the south carolina votes. Hillary goes a step further in her constant rambling about a few words Obama might have said off line and paints him as an elitist. This is too much for anybody with a clear conscience to listen to. The faster the Clintons exit the election scene the better it will be for the whole country.

[john]

It is not too negative. It is just CHARACTER ASSASSINATION.

[John B Sheffield]

The Democratic Nomination Race is being allowed to turn into a Disaster! no wonder 50% of all voters are fed up with it and what does the DNC do, sick back and keep saying all is well, let the race run it's course - why do these people "Bury Their Heads in the Sand" ????

Now the campaign is being turned into Hatred by one candidate and Her Supporters are calling on many major media websites for one section of the Party to leave or walk away, then more of Hillary's core vote will return to The Party, this is a DIGRACE! is it is 2008 and not the sad 1960's that the Majority of us had put to rest and turned our backs on.

It is no wonder the Youth of our fine Country are backing one candidate as he UNITES & ENGERIZES them to them it does not matter what gender or race!

WAKE UP DNC THIS HATRED MUST BE STOPPED NOW!

[Jonathan]

The only negative campaigning done is by Obama. I live in PA and on the airwaves, he attacked Clinton in his ads. He made several comments attacking her character. But Clinton didn't attack his character. She just said she is more experienced, she wouldn't have stayed with that pastor (only after pressed by the media), etc. It's the media that brought up all these things about Wright and Ayers. Sad the media doesn't remind us of Obama's lie about the meeting with the Canadian government, or how he lied about how much Rezko gave his campaign, or how he lied about his relationship with Wright. Wait till the Republicans get involved! They're worse than the media. And btw the only thing Obama can do is read speaches written for him by someone else. He hides behind ads written by someone else. But when it comes to debating and thinking on his own, he clams up, shakes, evades questions, and in the end runs away like a coward. He's more clueless than George Bush, and I didn't think it possible we could find someone worse! The only thing he had going for him is the machine behind him, thinking they could get him elected and use him as a pawn. He talks about evading special interests and lobbyist, but he's backed by big corporations looking to use him as their pawn, and they will do whatever it takes to protect their investment. Clinton is the only one who can think on her own feet, is truly independent, and can fix the damage this country has endured the last 8 years.

[carol]

This campaign is tame compared to others in the past.
FACT:
Neither candidate has enough delegates to win the nomination. Obamanites should be yelling at the superdelegates, not Clinton.
Clinton has every right to stay in this race. Had Obama won in Ohio, the game would be over. Now that he lost in PA gives her all the more reason to stay in.
Rev Wright and his "bitter" comment were the reason for Obama losing ground....not Clinton.

Obama, as his Pastor so abtly put it in his interview on PBS, is a politician. He tried to be above this, but obviously the media and voters are beginning to see this.
His "garbage" is starting to come out.

[europe]

I don't see how so much negativity in the US media against Obama campaign can go unnoticed. It's obvious that the voters truly connect with Obama's words and really believe in his campaign. Also from the "mistakes" Clinton made durign her campaign, one can say that she is difficult to trust after lying about sniper fire in bosnia which never happened and repeating it 3 or more times in her speeches. When the only thing you see repeating about Obama's campaign are the scenes of Rev. Wright who (is really just a silly guy and) knows nothing about politics.

In my opinion, Obama is a much stronger candidate against McCain and can easily beat him. When Clinton(s) wouldn't because they and McCain play the same game..