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Excellent point from the Corner about how Brown is appearing above the fray in all the attacks.

I strongly believe that is a big reason why he is succeeding here.

He is masterfully countering Coakley’s attacks, all the while appearing to not fight back at all. Damn brilliant.

Something that the GOP needs to study.

You can fight back against lies in campaigns without getting into the gutters with the Dems, and it really helps your campaign.

I can count at least a half-dozen people who claim to be Dems on the Boston Globe site saying they were swayed to vote for Brown SOLELY on Coakley’s negative ads.

That’s big stuff there.

“Conservative candidates should get angry about genuine outrages of course, but otherwise, be cheerful, optimistic, and civil.”

In short, the Reagan model - which Brown is wisely following. Even his reponses to outrageous attacks have been “more in sorrow than in anger”, much like Reagan’s in similar circumstances. This makes a nice contrast to the truly nasty stuff coming from the other side, including the “uniter-in-chief.” I have to laugh when I see the headlines on the local Mass. websites talking how negative “the campaign” has become, as it both sides have gotten down in the gutter.

And you’re right, anger correctly directed is both useful and appropriate. Anger at terrorists who want to murder Americans and inflict an alien system of governance on the whole world. But not against those from the other political party or who hold opinions that differ from yours. In this context it is interesting to compare Obama’s apparently genuine and heartfelt anger at the banks and insurance companies visible with his cool, district-attorney-in-traffic-court demeanor when he finally got around to discussing the Undi-Bomber three days after the event….”