(CNN) - Nope, it's not your imagination. The 2012 Republican contest in Florida has been the most negative campaign on record, according to a group tracking political ads in the Sunshine State.
The analysis from Campaign Media Analysis Group (CMAG) shows a whopping 92% of ads airing in Florida over the past week were negative. The organization said Tuesday that was a record rate for political campaigns.
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"I spent much of my academic career telling reporters, 'Relax, this is not the most negative campaign ever,'" CMAG President Ken Goldstein said. "Well, this IS the most negative campaign ever."
Numbers from CMAG show a total of 11,586 television spots aired in Florida between January 23 and January 29. Of those spots, 10,633 were negative and 953 were positive.
Of the 1,012 spots Newt Gingrich's campaign ran, 95% were negative. Mitt Romney's campaign ran 3,276 ads and 99% were negative.
The two super PACs supporting the top candidates were more divergent in their ad strategies. Restore our Future, supporting Romney, ran 4,969 spots, all of which were negative. The Gingrich-backing Winning our Future ran 1,893 spots, and only 53% were negative.
Correspondingly, the bulk of ads in Florida - 68% - were negative toward Gingrich. Twenty-three percent were anti-Romney spots. Gingrich got support from 9% of ads while pro-Romney spots accounted for less than 0.1%.
Florida's contest, which comes to a head Tuesday as voters head to the polls, has been marked by negative campaigning from the two frontrunners.
Romney has acknowledged his campaign entered Florida with a renewed mission to discredit Gingrich after the rival candidate won South Carolina's primary decisively.
On NBC's "Today" Monday, Romney said his campaign decided to respond in kind to negative attacks from Gingrich.
"We were being whaled on by Speaker Gingrich and didn't respond well in South Carolina," Romney said. "So we decided to respond. We made it clear if people want change in Washington you have to bring in someone from outside Washington. Both the change in tactic as well as the message have had a real impact in Florida."
For his part, Gingrich bemoaned the negative attacks from Romney Monday, saying they were "pathetic."
"What a pathetic situation to be running for the President of the United States with nothing positive to say for yourself," Gingrich said. "And nothing available, a big idea, big vision, a big future, and all you got to do is try to tear your opponent down to where they get smaller than you are. That's the Romney model. Now that's not my model. My model is to talk about big solutions."
CNN's Robert Yoon and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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look at the losers the gop has,explains all negitivity
Very scary. I really look at this and wonder how romney will run this country . If he wins I feel sorry for us who are not millionaires.
"What a pathetic situation to be running for the President of the United States with nothing positive to say for yourself," Gingrich said. "And nothing available, a big idea, big vision, a big future, and all you got to do is try to tear your opponent down to where they get smaller than you are. That's the Romney model. ...."
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Good call, Mr. Gingrich. Mitt Romney's practicing up on tearing down for Pres. Obama. He's been trying to do that for months and months now.
The republican politics of division and hate is alive in the Romney campaign. If you believe he will unite the country after destroying the GOP party, you have to be dumber than a box of hammers.
The sad thing is, it won't get any better from here. And it gives you a preview of the fall campaign.
A sad state if affairs. I dread the negative campaign full of misinformation this fall.
and certain judges on the SCOTUS are just sitting back, having little to NO shame for what they have done and are soaking it all in.
Republicans= the best government THEY can buy...
@Rudy NYC
Fair is Fair asked:
Gee – I wonder which party's candidates are re going to benefit from this money?
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The Toga Party.
Hilarious Rudy!!!!!! As a big fan of Animal House when it came out, your comment had me laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair.
How can anyone think that THIS GUY can beat Obama in November?
Newtards, if you aren't sick of his incessant whining yet, how do you think he'll sound against Obama? Complaining about how Obama will have more money to campaign than him and name-calling Obama as a "liar" on every Fox News show isn't going to win him a general election.
Want to know the fundamental difference between Romney/Paul and Gingrich/Santorum? It's not conservatism... It's they both stack up well in polls against Obama and Mitt and Ron have gotten licked by negativity and never whined about it!! Mans game. Play or shut up! I am so sick of his constant complaints about lies when he lies just as bad if not worse. Seriously, THIS GUY?!!
POTUS Obamas associates are taking notes,beware..His staff is getting ready for either one of the Republican nitwits that will challenge him,if there is a challenge.The Repubs are counting their chickens long before they're hatched,excellent stratagey.Obama will raise that money without negative ads,something the Repubs are not used to like in 08.Remember who the organizer is,Obama ,wrote the book on that subject...
It is time for Obama to accept the responsibility of saving the American auto industry and a million jobs, being responsible for the lowest tax rates in 50 years, 23 consecutive months of private sector job growth; the end of bin Laden, Ghaddify most of the al Qaida leadership and a dozen or so Somali pirates; helping millions stay on their parent's health care policy, bringing our troops out of Iraq, the stock market going from under 7000 to over 12000, cash for clunkers to keep those republican car dealerships open, and the creation of 3 million jobs.
Look at all you people making fun of these candidates. At least they speak the truth and aren't going around talking about "HOPE" and "CHANGE". I have a feeling that as emotional the campaign has begun, these candidates will actually fo what they say. Obama had his chance. He failed us. Im giving the GOP a shot this time
Newt, your going to lose because of your own choices. Romney simply highlighted your life and now you've self-imploded
I will vote for Obama's Hope and Change before voting for the gloom and doom of the republican class warfare crowd.
It is unfortunate that in today's world negativity seems to win out!
Just wait until you see the campaign the Republican-Tea Party wages against Obama. It will make this one look like a love fest.
To see one of the primary sources of the ‘politics of personal destruction’ Mr. Gingrich need look no further than the nearest mirror. At the risk of being crass, it is as if he vomited in your living room and then told you the smell of your house makes him sick. I look forward to his return to the private sector in the coming months.
And I like how the Republicans keep saying "Obama has nothing to run on, so all he will do is attack his opponents" Pot meet kettle....
"Look at all you people making fun of these candidates. At least they speak the truth"
oh give me a break fool.
The Pukes are lying every damned time they open their mouths. Are you REALLY that stupid as to believe their crap?
as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, will president Obama win a second term!
If Romney and his super pac think President Obama will fall apart like Gingrich did he got a rude awaken. This man have nothing to offer to this Country because he has no clue of how relugar people live in the real world. Yes he stated that he has the right business mind to turn this econmoy around for this Country. Like he did the companies when he was CEO for the Bains Corporation. I will vote for President Obama again because he has shown he is worth my vote again and I'm not stupid like some people who think this mess we are in can be turn around in four year. Also listen very carefully what the republicans/tea-bagger have to offer. I remember the election in November 2010 and they (republicans/tea-baggers) punk everybody who believe in their BS.
You're Next Obama......Signed Mitt Romney.
And this is exactly what you'd get if you voted for these guys – a negative results president. These are not your only choices, people.
"Hilarious Rudy!!!!!! As a big fan of Animal House when it came out, your comment had me laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair."
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He has his moments – with comedy, anyway.
John T - "Obama had his chance. He failed us. Im giving the GOP a shot this time"
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And just what is it you loved so much about the Bush/Cheney years? Two costly and unnecessary wars? The economic collapse? The tax cuts for the rich, who promptly sat on the extra cash? Waterboarding? War crimes? Because that's what we'll go back to if Repugnants (God help us) get in again. Neither Rom-money nor Gangrene has differentiated himself from Bush, so we can expect more of the same.
Newt is such a joke of a candidate it shows how weak a candidate Swiss Bank Account Romney is that he could have lost to him. I think Romney's dishonesty catches up with him in the general election.
Some day take a look at the venom that went on between Jefferson and Adams in 1800 or so. It makes this look mild. To me this is just more liberal PC junk that is made up! Let the mud fly and you know we the people can sort it all out without your opinion! I know that makes the media unhappy but get over yourselves.
What type of idiots these candidates are?? Burning out money all way through and selling nothing to people. If I were independent I would not have difficulties what side to choose.
@JohnT
"Look at all you people making fun of these candidates. At least they speak the truth and aren't going around talking about "HOPE" and "CHANGE"."
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Nobody has seen these candidates speak the truth and they don't want change – they want to return to the same practices that created the problems. Just look at the fact checkers after each debate. You negative view of "Hope and Change" is perfectly in-line with the Republican mentality. Conservatives have worked tirelessly to obstruct all progress and to diminish hope and prevent a much needed change. It's extremely sad that you seem to take pleasure in the difficulties faced by our President during these challenging times. Republicans created the mess and yet taunt people about the futility of expecting change. Hate radio and tv has produced some poor examples of American patriots – and that includes you.
Once the filings for the SuperPacs and donors are revealed, along with the assessment like the one just provided, I hope voters take a step back and realize how vulnerable our whole system of democracy has become.
Everyone gets a front seat to the nasty civil war in the GOP, tea party and conservatives versus the country club rockefeller libs! Romney will LOSE against Obama because conservatives won't have anyone to vote for this fall. Romney IS A LIBERAL! He voted for Carter and Mondale against Reagan. He is a Republican in party but not in ideology. He is a phony.
I'm glad Romney is being aggressive in going after Newt. People were too quick to forget his embarrassing past and they needed to be reminded. If Romney didn't remind the voters, Obama would making it easy for him to get re-elected.
I'm glad Romney is being aggressive in his attacks. People were too quick to forget Newt's embarrassing past. If Romney didn't remind the voters, Obama would and that would make it easy for him to get re-elected.
How a candidate treats his/her enemies on the campaign trail is a window to how they will treat opponents when in office. Newt went from behaving in a stand up manner (almost enough to get me to reconsider him), to being a mean bulldog. Frankly, he scares me. Santorum is the only one behaving "presidential". Hmmm.
The irony of this Presidential Republican primary election is that the same big corporations that back the tea baggers candidates in 2010 or the same ones that is now railing against the tea baggers Presidential candidates to elect a Republican establishment. Mitt Romney is no tea baggers. How do you tea baggers feel about the fact you just got used by the Republicans establishment and taking down with the same big corporations that backed you tea baggers in 2010? If Mitt wins the nominee, good buy tea baggers. Mitt was to the left of Ted Kenny tea baggers. And Ted Kenny is a progressive leftie.
I don't believe it...it's just CNN trying to get Obama elected. hehehehehe I'm going back to Faux News for some fair and balanced reporting. hehehehehe Just kidding. Obama will crush eithier of these clowns, especially when Mittens gets the nod. The GOP's only hope is if Sarah comes to thier rescue at the convention, even then it's probably close to a double digit victory in the Fall.
No where NEAR good enough, Republicans!
Jimmy...the GOP knows it already has your vote and 30% of the country, even if the Dems put Satan himself up there for election...they need the moderate/undecided/middle of the road vote to win a national election. That is the only reason Romney will beat Newt. The smart people in your Party have already figured this out. I hope you and millions of other Tea Baggers decide not to vote this Fall. If I were a Tea Bagger, I wouldn't vote for Mittens either. It won't matter either way. Obama will win in a landslide similar to Clinton's 2nd term this Fall...unless the GOP causes an economic meltdown or assasinates him before November. The GOP is desperate and desperate people do desperate things...
We need a new administration. Following the socialist policies of the current administration will be very damaging for this country. People need to take a look across the atlantic. We have a perfect example of what such policies lead to, there. Another 4 years with no changes and we will be in the same boat as Greece, Italy, and Spain.
Not to worry Chris S... None of us will have to worry if WE ALL vote Democrat! American people can not afford a republican in office.
Romney's Cartel is just warming up with the negativity!
It's really sad that our candidates are so involved in tearing each other apart. We must unite to get BHO out of office. Stop fighting each other and focus on our real problem. OBAMA!
Sure, it is getting nasty, but then people lie when they say they don't like negative ads because they work and people believe them whether they are true or not.
I don't find this any more vicious than watching democrats 4 years ago have half their party turn against the other half because they wanted to make history with Obama rather than make history with Hillary. Half the party therefore decided that the other half were racist as were the attacks on the Clintons claiming even their own past President and First Lady to be racist. Now hearing that, that was indeed nasty. Unfortunately the democrats have continued that mantra of anyone who disagrees with Obama must be racist, so I often wonder how much damage they have caused and set back the real instances of racism that now will be glossed over after having democrats cry wolf for the past 3+ years and now most people no longer even listen to the phony charges.
“I think one of the great problems we have in the Republican party is that we don’t encourage you to be nasty. We encourage you to be neat, obedient, and loyal and faithful and all those Boy Scout words.”
~Newt Gingrich, advocating for hateful rhetoric and smearing opponents with lies. he gave it then he got it, sore loser.
I think it says something that there doesn't need to be any pro-Romney ads on TV; the man sells himself at personal appearances, debates and through other public figures that support his candidacy. And he's winning.
It's because of insanely ignorant, delusional and gullible voters like JohnT that we have the mess of a country we have. When will these idiots discover the Fact Check website???
Well I am the minority I love the negative campaigning its good vetting for the candidates. Romney put his ideas forth after 20 debates. I know where he stands, on the economy, immigration, and healthcare. He put out his tax return, we know he is wealthy, he is a good father and loyal husband. Romney is the best to debate Obama on healthcare because he knows how some things didn't work when he implemented it in Mass.
We have the latter Gingrich, who is a 2 time cheat, got fired as speaker, consulted Freddie and Fannie (who knows maybe thats why they went under) wants to spend billions of dollars on a moon base, and he is just not Presidential material but only damged goods.
Santorum has good ideas but he is a hot head and in=experienced. I would suggest he read his wifes manners book when he debates.
Paul is tell it like it is but a little to radical for my liking.
I have the really big solution kick all of these nitwits to the curb and get a real candidate and while you are at it get rid of the corporate sponsored PACS. This is the death of democracy having the big money people and corporations buying elections. Limit the time framme of the election process and the amount of money to be spent and vet these idiots way ahead of time. No last minute candidates.
"GOP 'the most negative party ever,' says media group"
There, CNN, FIFY.
Maybe true in recent memory, but the election of 1800 was probably just as dirty and possibly more so than the current contest. Go back and read the political ads of the time and you'll be amazed at the length Adams' and Jefferson's supporter went to in smearing their opponent.
Of course the Media had no hand in all the Negativity–
"Following the socialist policies of the current administration will be very damaging for this country."
Again with the lies. Please specify which policies you consider "socialist".
Don't they realize that Americans are watching and listening to them- so busy bashing each other that they do not make the time to tell us what they will do if elected?
"We're the new GOBP: Turning the hate up to 11!"
People who think that Obama is a flip flopper, must 1st realize that working with a GOP led Congress influenced by the Tea Bagger "my way is the only way" mentality, to get ANYTHING done the past three years takes compromise and negotiation, give and take. Any compromises the POTUS has made, has been a lessor of two evils. When your "The Man", you have to make decision based on the good of the US, which I think this President is trying to do on a daily basis. I did not vote for GW Bush, but I always believed he had the good of the country in his heart, even if i disagreed with his policies. I respected the Office and the Man. The problem is that the GOP doesn't respect Obama. I thnk it's shameful.
Yep, blame it on the Media...putting out information and the truth is a bad thing.
This doesn't bother me. I prefer negative ads to, for example, Newt and that strange-looking woman he's married to wishing me a Merry Christmas. In fact, it's a shame that Newt won't be the nominee: I was looking forward to his ads showing Obama and Saul Alinsky playing golf together.
PM Ohio... What is up with the derisive "tea-bagger" reference? do you want the nation to go bankrupt? Because that is where Obama or Romney will take it (The same with Bush I & II, Clinton, Carter, etc.) The only conservative ever elected POTUS was Reagan, but he couldn't accomplish anything because he didn't have the Congress or the courts. How can you discourage conservatism when it has never been applied in our lifetimes?
No way this is the most negative campaign ever. Try the Presidential election of 1800, where Adams' "Superpacs" of the day (i.e., the newspapers) referred to Jefferson as Satan, unholy, etc., and Jefferson's crowd called Adams a man who wanted to establish a monarchy inside our new democracy. It was brutal at the national level, not just in a state primary.
Anonymous
"Following the socialist policies of the current administration will be very damaging for this country."
Again with the lies. Please specify which policies you consider "socialist".
The Tea Baggers think that Obama invented the "bailouts", when GW Bush gave away more money in his last 4 months than Obama has done since. Once again, the POTUS has to make tough decisions, especially when the world's economies were teetering and ready to collapse. If Bush and Obama wouldn't have given bailout money to US companies three years ago, who knows what we would be doing right now...see the images from the Great Depression for reference. What scares me most about the Tea Baggers is that they wouldn't make that tough correct choice and they would follow thier doctine over what's good for the country and world. Even "Two Wars Bush" was smart enough to know you sometimes have to compromise your ideals for the good of all.
Those socialist policies? Like ending an unnecessary war, giving tax cuts for 160 million workers, putting an end to DADT, standing up for women's rights, ending the reign of bin Laden and Gadhaffi; increasing veteran's benefits, social security and medicare; loaning money for GM and Chrysler to restructure, saving 1 million auto related jobs, 23 months of consecutive private sector job growth?
Reagan, Bush the elder, and Bush the moron gave us $12 trillion of our national debt. (that includes Bush's TARP)
Apparently this one is a test of who would be the most effective in going negative against Obama.
How on target would they be with facts that Obama would prefer to stay hidden or buried by his own redirects? Whomever runs against Obama will have to be nimble enough to do jujitsu around Obama's redirects and distracts from his policies.
@anonymous, Obamacare for one. That is a pretty big one.
Mitt and Newt really have been mean to one another and for us Democrats watching we can't help but wonder what form of junk will be left of the Republican Party and if they really matter anymore. Giving them a mark for integrity would be difficult and embarrassing as truth has given away to damn the consequences just win. Congress proves to be equally arrogant also.
the suckers donate to obama...while Michelle obama drops $50,000.00 in a dress shop in NY, tieing up trafic for blocks. Now his reelection team is out with credit card swipers for donating...this guy has no shame. If he were principaled he would resign for the mess and division he has created...but, like all power mongers he will spend a billion dollars to hold on to POWER, say and do all he can to do so.
Mitt knows the poorer we get the richer he gets. He has a proven record of destroying the little guy.
I don’t understand how people still like Obama. Sure he seemed like he would be a good president 3 years ago...Obama has done nothing but restrict small businesses, and put us further into debt. Romney or Newt would be a better than Obama!
WEAKNESS!! This country is doomed due to the fact of the populus getting their collective feelings hurt when someone disagrees with them. Welcome a different opinion, and back yours up with fact. This is what made the U.S. great and the only thing that can return us to that greatness. Both left and right have good ideas, take the best of both and move forward and stop insulting one another because they don't share your ideas, your weak.
@ John T
"Obama had his chance. He failed us. Im giving the GOP a shot this time"
How long have you been asleep???
@anonymous-all the bailouts for another. Most everything Obama has done has been in the name of "social justice," socialist in nature.
Why is this a surprise? Republicans have accused Obama of being everything from a muslim, hitler, stalin, the anti-christ, kenyan. These losers couldn't get elected dog catcher if they didn't run huge smear campaigns full of lies.
Anonymous
"Following the socialist policies of the current administration will be very damaging for this country."
Again with the lies. Please specify which policies you consider "socialist".
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Gurgi
"uhhhhhh......uhhhhh. Where is Rush when you need him???"