G. Frink's

Their moral reprehensibility aside, negative campaign strategies can do as much harm to those launching them as they do to the target.

A study this week by Media Curves found that Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's attack speeches do as much harm to the John McCain cause as to Barack Obama's:

Results from a new national study among 311 self-reported Democrats, Republicans and Independents revealed that after viewing a speech by Sarah Palin in which she attacked Obama for his link with Bill Ayers, favorability ratings slightly decreased for John McCain and Barack Obama.

A look at the detailed results showed that overall favorability for McCain and Obama decreased the same amount as a result of Palin's attacks, although Obama was hurt slightly more among Democrats than was McCain.

For the attacks are to work, that tiny edge in negative impact on Democrats must persist, and overarching poll results indicate that Obama is gaining favor among voters.

Not losing it.

Mission Palin is apparently doomed, as it deserves to be.

Update

CNN: Voters' debate reaction shows resistance to negativity