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While some Democrats fear that the increasingly negative tone in the protracted battle for the Democratic presidential nomination will hurt the party’s chances in November, a Vanderbilt University political scientist anticipates just the opposite.
John McCain could now face a much stronger opponent in the general presidential election, said Vanderbilt University political scientist John Geer. “It appears that Hillary Clinton’s negativity, including the 3 a.m. phone call ad, paid off in her recent primary wins,” he said. “Many observers will say those tactics are bad for the electoral process, but voters need to know the weaknesses of Barack Obama as well as Clinton.”
Geer, author of In Defense of Negativity: Attack Ads in Presidential Campaigns, thinks the 3 a.m. phone call ad was helpful because it started a conversation about whether Obama is ready to answer that type of call if he were president. In addition, Geer thinks Obama was put off stride by the recent attacks, and the NATFA issue will return in the general election.
“The Republicans are certain not to treat whoever is the Democratic nominee with kid gloves,” Geer said. “These primary battles sharpen these Democratic candidates and provide the public even more information. It may not be pretty, but we need to poke and prod any candidate who wants to sit behind that big desk.”
Media Contact: Ann Marie Deer Owens, (615) 322-NEWS
annmarie.owens@vanderbilt.edu
[Editor’s note: To arrange an interview with Geer, a Distinguished Professor of Political Science, email john.g.geer@vanderbilt.edu.]