In
politics, the process of campaigning by focusing on just about anything other than
your plans and qualifications for the
position. Popular negative campaigning tactics
include projecting negative consequences of your
opponent's plans,
ad hominem attacks
on your opponent (name-calling and the like), and the occasional
Big Lie.
On my recent trip to the UK, I discovered that
American politicians have a lot to learn about negative campaigning. I have yet to hear of
a candidate for a House of Representatives seat being accused of being a transsexual,
as was the case in at least one Parliament race. Most frightening, though, was Labour's
national campaign featuring Margaret Thatcher's hairdo grafted onto William Hague's
head. Scary, scary stuff.