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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 3, 2006 Negative ads begin as Nov. nears By Jim Kuhnhenn The Associated Press WASHINGTON — To judge from a recent wave of political advertising, politicians in America are hypocritical, rub shoulders with criminals, vote against American values and don't support U.S. troops. With five weeks to Election Day and control of Congress at stake, negative ads are making their way onto the airwaves and into mailboxes earlier and in greater volumes than ever before. Candidates, political parties and advocacy groups are stretching, bending or spinning the truth in search of an edge with voters. This week, the parties have ramped up their ad placements, attacking opponents on their past votes, their past business dealings, and their links to big donors. To be sure, negative ads are not new to politics. American election history is filled with examples of vicious political attacks on candidates. The goal of such ads, campaign strategists and some experts say, is to mobilize base voters and increase turnout for their candidates. But some researchers say it also depresses turnout by independent voters. Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.