SIGNS OF DESPERATION ALREADY? – AT 7:55 P.M. ET:  The Democratic Party is pursuing a campaign strategy that shows just how much progress American politics has made in the age of Obama:

WASHINGTON — Democratic candidates across the country are opening a fierce offensive of negative advertisements against Republicans, using lawsuits, tax filings, reports from the Better Business Bureau and even divorce proceedings to try to discredit their opponents and save their Congressional majority.

Opposition research and attack advertising are used in almost every election, but these biting ads are coming far earlier than ever before, according to party strategists. The campaign has intensified in the last two weeks as early voting begins in several states and as vulnerable incumbents try to fight off an onslaught of influences by outside groups.

As they struggle to break through with economic messages, many Democrats are deploying the fruits of a yearlong investigation into the business and personal histories of Republican candidates in an effort to plant doubts about them and avoid having races become a national referendum on the performance of President Obama and his party.

Yeah, that last part is a gem.  We must avoid any judgment of The One.  Well, it's religiously consistent.  We don't judge divine creatures.

A debate has broken out among some Democratic officials about the effectiveness — or wisdom — of running such pointedly negative advertisements with five weeks remaining in the campaign. But party strategists said candidates did not have the luxury of waiting until the final stretch to go negative, particularly if the goal is to localize the races.

I know, I know.  Sensing when to smear is such a fine art, and there just aren't enough practitioners to go around.  And you know whose fault that is?  BUSH!!

Republicans must counter every charge, and throw in plenty of their own.  Theirs is a target-rich environment.

September 26, 2010