Does Mudslinging Really Do Anything

This past election cycle proved to be full of more mudslinging than ever. From Nevada to Illinois to Massachusetts, candidates in every race used mudslinging like it was standard operating procedure.

Fast-forward two years from now and the whole scenario will play out again. Will anyone in 2012 remember the mudslinging campaigns from two years prior? It seems that no matter what type of campaign a candidate runs, the most memorable thing is their concession or victory speech containing their core beliefs as a politician as well as the obligatory thank you to the other candidates for a “well-fought battle.”

As a whole, the American public is innocent of instigating this forgetfulness.  A majority of politicians bring their “pack-away soapboxes” with them everywhere. When appropriate (read: at the beginning and end of the campaign) politicians will jump on their respective soapboxes and preach their belief system

(By the way, this is what the voting public is supporting before those attack ads run rampant).

Here’s a word of advice for those running for office in 2012, courtesy of your friendly professionals at SMPR.  As you prepare to run for office, make sure to remember where your soapbox is and why are you actually running for office.  Make sure to stand on that soapbox and don’t pack it away to run attack ads.

If you want to make change, then do it.  Make sure to start that change by running a clean campaign that focuses on strategy and a reputation that you will be proud of. Don’t sell yourself short and lose sight of the campaign you originally set out to run. Remember after the race, the thing people who voted for or against you will remember is your graciousness in winning or losing. There’s no reason to throw your reputation out the window for a few short weeks of campaigning.  Trying to apologize for a dirty campaign won’t be remembered in a year’s time.