[The Iceman Cometh]

That it took this long to realize that negative ads don't work...

Expect Cruz PAC's to go positive in their ads in 3...2.. never.. lolz

[EQAndyBuzz]

Trump is a meanie. They need to change that perception.

[jimbo123]

Makes sense. Trump is 6-8 points ahead of Cruz in SC today.

Better news is that Jeb is in 4th place and really stinking it up!

[Hattie]

Cruz’s were not negative; the ones I saw were funny.

[grania]

Trump came across as so presidential in the speech and interviews following his NH victory. So, Cruz goes negative in his SC ads, while Trump pulling his negative ads looks, well, presidential. Meanwhile those negative ads from Cruz just reinforce Cruz's image as a "do whatever it takes" campaigner in Iowa and with his aggressive campaign donation solicitations.

Check, but not checkmate, for Trump?

[CA Conservative]

That it took this long to realize that negative ads don't work...

Actually the reason they still do negative ads is because they DO work - it has been proven over and over again. Voters always say they don't like negative ads, and every election negative ads have an impact on how they vote.

[Beagle8U]

It would be a shame if a unknown PAC run a ad with Trump using F-bombs, and calling other candidates a *ussy.

Trump’s NYC ‘values’ will be out there for all to see!

[Cboldt]

-- That it took this long to realize that negative ads don't work... --

Oh, they work alright, otherwise they wouldn't be used. I do believe that Trump's campaign may be an exception, because people are prejudiced to see him as mean and unfair, and he doesn't have the "mantle of Christianity" to hide behind.

Smart move on their part. Somebody is paying attention to how the public responds to the publicity. He can shift back to "defense" and "negative late next week, if there is a sense that is advantageous.

Another factor is that other candidates are going negative against each other, some of the messages that Trump was putting out (e.g., Cruz won dirty in Iowa, vs. Carson) are repetitive of the messages put out by Rubio, for example.