[tflabo]

You have to paint your opponent with negatives early on.

Has to be positive, inspiring, common sense messaging with passion that will win over some voters. Reagan showed how to do it but the feckless GOP doesn’t have what it takes. Too much dead wood but the newly elected in the Primaries must take the lead and blow past the dead wood lunkheads of the GOPe.

[1Old Pro]

Has to be positive, inspiring, common sense messaging with passion that will win over some voters

Also 100% correct, but you can belittle and frame your opponent negatively in a humorous way.