There wasn't any radio or T.V. or movies, but broadsides and pamphlets and newspapers and rumor mills were just as effective and NASTY in the 18th century.You really need to go look into this.All manner of NASTY has always been been used,in political campaigns,from calling Jackson's wife a whore and him an adulterer,when THAT mattered, to lying about Cleveland having a bastard child,when THAT mattered,and on and on.
Don't talk about things you know little about and nobody will then correct you. :-)
"Gone to the White House, ha ha ha!"