Besides, the slight rise in turnout in the 1992 presidential campaign may be a better indicator of what's ahead than the drop-off this year. This has more to do with demographics and economics than with attack ads, TV, or cynicism. Older, better-off Americans tend to vote more than younger still scuffling Americans. To the extent voting American gets East Hamptonized, expect climbing turn-outs. Despite all the evidence, the bad feelings about attack ads have a mean life of their own.
Critics search for a magic bullet to slay the beast.
I think I know why. I friend of mine, a TV station-group president, had the same idea years ago. He offered senatorial candidates in one Southeastern state free TV time in the evening hours, to speak about anything they wanted. No one took up his offer. I feel about those viewers the same as I feel about voters who supposedly stay home because they saw one, or a dozen, or a hundred, negative ads.