Has the Obama Campaign Gone Too Negative?

As former Gov. Mitt Romney steps onto the pedestal of GOP presidential nominee, President Barack Obama’s campaign has come out swinging, Monday releasing an ad called “We’ve Heard It All Before” criticizing Romney’s economic record as governor. Obama ran on an optimistic platform of “Hope” and “Change” in 2008, so a leaner, meaner campaign machine in 2012 that attacks Romney from the start may be jarring to some voters.

Seasoned politicos recall that Obama’s 2008 primary battle against now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was no walk in the park. However, this time around, critics argue that Obama’s negative campaigning is proof that—with a sluggish economy and healthcare, his signature legislation, still very controversial and possibly on the verge of being struck down—an aggressive attack on Romney is the only weapon he has left. Obama supporters insist that the well-funded Romney campaign carpet-bombed his rivals in the primary, and in the age of Citizens United and Super PACs, the president must fight fire with fire. But how will the voters take it? Has the Obama campaign already gone too negative? Here is the Debate Club’s take: