The "negative Republican story" blitz that we are seeing is unprecedented and will only become more strident as we draw nearer to election day. They are meant to instill defeatism, doubt and doom into the rank and file Republican Party so they won't come out to vote. If this tactic works we will only see worse in 2008.
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Dems tried the same tactic with the 2004 presidential "false exit polls", but it failed miserably. Dems couldn't understand how Rove managed to turn out the vote so effectively. We know the obvious: Democrats are attempting the same voter suppression techniques. They want to discourage us every chance they get. I'm going to frustrate the daylights out of them soon. ;0)