Totem wrote:
all candidates at that level have these groups surrounding them and their campaigns
A fair point.
I concede that if we judge politicians by the people who support them our views will be tainted.
I suspect Kerry and Bush both have moments when they slap their face in their hands and despair at the misguided malice propounded by their supporters who lack the subtlety of top level politics.
I've referred to Michael Portillo who was odds-on favourite to lead the Conservatives and could have beaten Blair at the last UK Election to become UK Prime Minister. He withdrew after a bunch of 'supporters' slagged off his leadership rival's military career. The back-lash to such blatant negative campaigning put his campaign beyond retrieval.
I still think that Bush could gain credibility by distancing himself from Swiftvets. He doesn't need to denounce them or even challenge their assertions. Just a comment that the 'real issue' is whether Kerry's policies stand up could win him votes.
Maybe just a difference between UK and US politics. Negative campaigning is seens as desparation over here and is usually the last action of a politician before his resignation.