This is just politics Texas style, nothing new if you believe the following LBJ story.
*****
Legend has it that during one of Lyndon Johnson’s early congressional campaigns, he instructed his aides to spread the rumour that his opponent, a local farmer, was having sex with his pigs. “But Lyndon, you know that’s not true,” said his campaign manager. To which LBJ is said to have replied: “I know. I just want to hear the sonofabitch deny it.
“*****
http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2010/10/deficit-labour-tax-balls
I’ve seen that account before; really was shrewd thinking wasn’t it?