Negative Ads Top American Dislikes

They may work, and most political candidates swear by them, but Americans really hate negative TV and radio ads, even more than dinner-time campaign calls to their homes.

In our latest Washington Whispers poll from Synovate-eNation, 35 percent chose negative ads as the one thing they dislike the most about campaign season. Campaign calls to homes ranked as the third dislike, at 18 percent.

At second, and in what may be a sign of the current anti-spending mood in the country, 26 percent said that they dislike all the money spent on political campaigns. Fortunately for pollsters, only 11 percent dislike most hyped media polls of the elections and 10 percent dislike how candidates pander to voters.

What do you dislike the most about national elections such as the upcoming fall midterms?

Negative ads on TV and radio 35%

All the money spent on campaigns 26%

Campaign calls to my home 18%

Hyped media coverage of political polls 11%

Candidate pandering for votes 10%

Source: The Synovate eNation Internet poll was conducted September 10-14, 2010 among 1,000 nationally representative households by global market research firm Synovate.

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