Boyda: Election Shows Power of Negativity

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Updated: 2:22 PM Nov 18, 2008 Boyda: Election Shows Power of Negativity The defeated Kansas Democrat says her race against Republican Lynn Jenkins showed that the easiest way to win an election is by saying lots of bad things about your opponent. Posted: 8:33 AM Nov 17, 2008

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Congresswoman Nancy Boyda says she tried to prove that she could win re-election to her 2nd District House seat without running attack ads against her opponent.

But instead, the defeated Kansas Democrat says her race against Republican Lynn Jenkins showed that the easiest way to win an election is by saying lots of bad things about your opponent -- even if they're not true.

Jenkins, the Republican Kansas state treasurer, beat Boyda 51 percent to 46 percent. Boyda said the margin shows "beyond a shadow of a doubt'' the capacity of negative campaigning to get votes.

Boyda told The Topeka Capital-Journal in her first extended interview since Election Day that "We will be the nationwide case history for why there has to be mudslinging, and the more the better.''

But a Jenkins spokesman attributed the Republican's victory to hard work on the campaign trail, a message of fiscal conservatism -- and a "better candidate.''

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Latest Comments

Posted by: Paxico 'Hawk Location: Topeka on Nov 18, 2008 at 02:40 PM

Typical Democrat....whiner and loser, and still trying to find excuses....SAD, SAD! Out the door, Boyda, don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!
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Posted by: admireed Location: montana5 on Nov 17, 2008 at 10:07 PM

Walking out of a presentation by a top military person showed true colors. You loose!
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Posted by: Brian Location: Kansas on Nov 17, 2008 at 09:00 PM

What we need is actual campaign reform. Run a campaign on public financing. Don't allow candidates to buy there way to office. Eliminate the lobbiest buying the candidate so OUR elected official will represent OUR best interest and wants. Allow only truth in advertising in its full context. No twisting. If you can't win on your proven record and what you stand for (good or bad) you do not deserve to "represent" us. Just level the field completely. We deserve better! Our country deserves better! This goes for the Republicans and Democrates. They are all at fault. Washingtion has to change. If it doesn't, our Country does not stand a chance. We are not the rest of the world. We are the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and it is time we remember what that used to stand for. Be proud, stand tall and firm on the truth and what is right. It seems like in the name of "tolerance" all we do is bow down to what is wrong. Its impossible to please every group but it is possible to stand for what is right.
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