Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

As NH Blitz Begins, So Do Attack Ads

Outside groups rev up negative flyers, phone calls

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 4, 2008 7:36 PM CST

(Newser) – Round two looks nastier already. As the presidential candidates swarm New Hampshire, a more aggressive wave of attack ads—from outside groups and the candidates themselves—is evident, the Washington Post reports. Labor and teacher unions, along with anti-tax and pro-life groups, have spent $4 million in recent months on mailings and phone calls, taking advantage of a change in campaign finance law.

McCain is pilloried for his refusal to take a tax pledge, Obama on his health care plan, and Clinton for her abortion record. With candidates' time crunched in the shortened primary schedule, such ads may play a big role in shaping images, the Post notes. "Our members have as much a right as Oprah Winfrey does to participate in the process," said a rep of one Edwards-backing union.

Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks to reporters in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Wednesday Dec. 26, 2007. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (Associated Press)

Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) during a campaign stop at Aeroservices, Inc. January 4, 2008 in Nashua, New Hampshire. Coming... (Getty Images)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) addresses a rally at the Pan Am Flight Services hanger January 4, 2008 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Obama is coming to New Hampshire ahead of... (Getty Images)

Republican presidential hopeful former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney uses the intercom to jokes with campaign staff members and the traveling press aboard a midnight charter plane to New Hampshire... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

'Swift Boating' Fears for Obama May Be Premature

Third-party groups aren't appearing on the horizon

(NEWSER) - Democrats fretting over a reprise of the swift boating that marked the 2004 campaign may be hearing false alarms, Politico reports. Third-party organizations, aka 527 groups, have thus far been unable to drum up enough opposition to Barack Obama to fund an offensive. It's early yet, but antagonists like T. Boone Pickens and Freedom's Watch are on the sidelines. More»

Obama Pulled In $32M in January

Meanwhile, McCain makes headway after beginning '08 in debt

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama has raised $32 million this month, the Washington Post reports—a massive number in such a short span. The Democrat's campaign manager reported 170,000 new donors in January, raising the total number of contributors to 650,000. The best fundraising day was immediately following Hillary Clinton’s Jan. 8 victory in New Hampshire—which the Obama camp interprets as showing “the resolve” of supporters. More»

Voters Sweat Economy, Slam Bush: Exit Polls

Voters share concerns about Bush, markets

(NEWSER) - New Hampshire exit polls picked the brains of yesterday’s voters, finding not only that women helped Hillary Clinton and independents boosted John McCain, but also that the economy was foremost in most voters’ minds—and Republicans weren’t giving Bush backers a free pass. While two-thirds of Granite State GOPers still support the Iraq war, half of them were angry with the current president, CNN reports. More»

'Mac Is Back' in Granite State

McCain finds new political life, hopes to rock NH like it's 2000

(NEWSER) - John McCain is back in New Hampshire, dispensing straight talk and cajoling his press corps “base” like it was still 2000. But this time he’s not playing Maverick—he just wants to be the least objectionable candidate, Politico reports. “People may not agree with every stand I take,” McCain says, “but they know I will make decisions based on principles, not polls.” More»

Clinton On Offense Against Obama Surge

Will push 'action over talk' message, but won't do negative ads

(NEWSER) - With late polls showing Barack Obama opening up a sizeable lead in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton shook up her campaign yesterday, setting a more aggressive course and drafting the new message herself, the Washington Post reports. The campaign will hammer home an action vs. rhetoric theme, but won't roll out negative ads, aiming to undermine Obama "without going nuclear," Politico says. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

As NH Blitz Begins, So Do Attack Ads

Outside groups rev up negative flyers, phone calls

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • John McCain • Oprah Winfrey • SEIU • New Hampshire primary • attack ad

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

'Swift Boating' Fears for Obama May Be Premature

Third-party groups aren't appearing on the horizon

Obama Pulled In $32M in January

Meanwhile, McCain makes headway after beginning '08 in debt

Voters Sweat Economy, Slam Bush: Exit Polls

Voters share concerns about Bush, markets

'Mac Is Back' in Granite State

McCain finds new political life, hopes to rock NH like it's 2000

Clinton On Offense Against Obama Surge

Will push 'action over talk' message, but won't do negative ads

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

As NH Blitz Begins, So Do Attack Ads

Outside groups rev up negative flyers, phone calls

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Hillary Clinton • John McCain • Oprah Winfrey • SEIU • New Hampshire primary • attack ad

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

'Swift Boating' Fears for Obama May Be Premature

Third-party groups aren't appearing on the horizon

Obama Pulled In $32M in January

Meanwhile, McCain makes headway after beginning '08 in debt

Voters Sweat Economy, Slam Bush: Exit Polls

Voters share concerns about Bush, markets

'Mac Is Back' in Granite State

McCain finds new political life, hopes to rock NH like it's 2000

Clinton On Offense Against Obama Surge

Will push 'action over talk' message, but won't do negative ads

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?