El Somnambulo Predicts ‘Em (Almost) All For You. Part 2
State House of Representatives:
RD 1 (D): While Victoria Kent shows promise as a first-time candidate, I look for Dennis P. Williams protege Charles Potter to win in Williams’ district. Former state rep Rourke Moore has been almost invisible. I’d encourage Kent to work on developing a bit more message discipline should she decide to seek office again. She has potential, but she’s not there yet.
RD 2 (D): Former State Rep. Arthur Scott challenges incumbent Stephanie Bolden. I think that Scott finds himself in something of the same time warp that has trapped Dave Brady. While there may be compelling reasons to defeat the incumbent, Scott hasn’t really made them. Bolden by a fairly comfortable margin.
RD 10 (D): Challenger Sean Matthews has earned at least one dubious distinction in his challenge to Dennis E. Williams: he’s come up with the absolute worst campaign signs of this season. He has ‘Sean’ in big snakelike letters with what looks like (I kid you not) the head of a snake at the top of the snakelike ‘S’. His last name is so small that you simply can’t read it when you drive past the signs, only if you’re stopped at a light. I was, and saw that what appears to be the snake’s head is actually a white star. Kids, I know my pro rasslin’, and I know that if your ring name is Sean the Snake, then you’re a heel, not a babyface. And, unless you’re Chris Christie, adopting a heel persona doesn’t win elections. Matthews turns out to be one of those young guys with ‘ants in his pants’ who should’ve waited. There was no raison d’etre for his candidacy in this Brandywine Hundred district. Williams wins handily.
RD 11 (D): Party insiders think that Lynne Newlin is likely to win the primary over David Brown in this newly-created district that straddles the Kent/New Castle County border. D’s also think that Newlin is the favorite to capture this seat in November.
RD 15 (D): I once thought that challenger James Burton could be an intriguing opponent for one of Dover’s nastiest, Rep. Val Longhurst, in this New Castle/Bear area district. Then I saw his campaign finance report. Longhurst easy.
RD 19 (D): An interesting matchup between longtime county open government advocate Bill Dunn and Red Clay school board member Kimberly Williams. Williams has the support of outgoing Speaker Bob Gilligan, and I think she’ll win a close battle. Her compelling personal story about how the recession has hit her family wouldn’t be so powerful if she hadn’t also displayed such empathy for people in the same position. There is a role for Bill Dunn to play in public service, and I know that his family has lived in this area for years. Voters win no matter how this comes out, but I think Williams has the edge.
RD 20 (D): Democrats think that Marie Mayor is one of their best newcomers of 2012, and who am I to argue? Should she win, her background in agritourism will provide a stark contrast to arrogant state cop Steve Smyk. And I think she wins in this Milton-area district. The other D’s are Thomas Jones and Lynn Rogers.
RD 22 (R): Two incumbents thrown together due to redistricting: Reps. Joe Miro and Nick Manolakos. Manolakos was just named the headmaster of Odyssey Charter School, and I think it’s good that he’ll have a job to fall back on. The conventional wisdom (meaning R’s who should know) is that Miro will win. We all know that the CW is often wrong, but I’m not about to substitute my less-informed opinion here. Miro wins the primary and effectively the election. He is getting up there, though…
RD 23 (D): A great three-way race to replace Rep. Terry Schooley. I think that Schooley’s staffer and former Newark councilman Jerry Grant will edge out PDD Chair Paul Baumbach by a slim margin. Claudia Bock’s candidacy seems to have faded. Baumbach’s great strength is knowing how to work the rules to his own advantage. This led to him getting the 23rd RD endorsement after the committee had effectively decided not to endorse. On the hustings, though, it’s tough to top Grant’s gregariousness and empathy, and Grant has actually helped many of these voters through the constituent services he provides.
RD 32 (D): OK, I give up. It sucks for me to have to predict this, but I think that opportunist Andria Viola Bennett defeats Bill McGlumphy in this Dover-area primary. Why? If you recall, McGlumphy retired from Dover City Council earlier this year, and it was not b/c he planned to run for this seat, he just was ready to retire. The Party got him to come out of retirement, and he thought he’d only have the November election to worry about. Enter the daughter of one of Delaware’s worst legislators (John Viola) and new wife of one of Delaware’s most-disgraced legislators (Brad Bennett). She’s running hard, and McGlumphy’s running like a guy who wishes he’d stayed retired. Jeez, I just might have to cut a check to the winner of the R Primary, who will be…
RD 32 (R): …former Kent County magistrate Ellis Parrott. Why am I so certain? Parrott’s opponent is Wil McVay, who as McVay will tell you, over and over again, is not really a Republican. Just another wannabe desperate for attention.
RD 39 (R): Incumbent Dan Short makes short work of Patrick Murray.
RD 40 (D): Ray Adkins defeats Benjamin Lowe for the right to be the sacrificial lamb (Biblical reference intentional) to the (extreme) right Rev. Timothy Dukes in this crimson red western Sussex district.
New Castle County:
County Executive: I think Tom Gordon wins, only b/c he has an established, if rather small, constituency of die-hard supporters. I have yet to detect any groundswell for Paul Clark, (What the bleep is a ‘groundswell’ anyway? Be right back…OK, looks like ‘groundswell’ is like a mini-tsunami, caused by a distant storm or earthquake.) or even a groundripple, for that matter, but lots of people reallyreally don’t want to vote for Gordon. If Bill Shahan had actually come out of the box stronger, he could have snuck up and won this thing. Who knows? In my fantasy scenario, Gordon and Clark continue to hurl stink bombs at each other, voters desert them both in droves, and Shahan pulls off the upset. Could happen, but likely won’t. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
County Council President: Renee Taschner has been everywhere, and I’ve seen Chris Bullock nowhere. I just don’t see how Chris defeats this relentless campaigner.
County Council District 8 (D): John Cartier should defeat Richard Perillo comfortably. Perillo says he’s running because he’s not happy with Cartier’s constituent services, and Cartier sometimes overpromises. But he delivers more often than not.
Wilmington Mayoral Race:
This race gets more interesting by the day. I do think that the Williams campaign peaked early, and is struggling to recapture momentum. I think that, contrary to my initial impressions, Montgomery has made himself into a viable candidate. And I think that Kevin Kelley also could win, if things break right. However, and reserving the right to change this prediction before next Tuesday, I still think that the ‘calculus’ favors Dennis Williams, and that he will be effectively elected Mayor on Tuesday. It is not simply a calculus based on race, but rather based on the fact that his home north Wilmington turf traditionally turns out in greater numbers than other areas of the city. Montgomery could win if he effectively erodes Williams’ support and somehow can escape the shadow of Jim Baker. Kelley could win if he can effectively show that he’s the only non-Baker guy in the race as Williams acts more like Baker every day and Montgomery has been with Baker forever. No one will accuse the Kelley campaign of ‘peaking too soon’, the only question is whether it will peak at all. Since no candidate is likely to get over 40% of the vote, this race is still out there to be won. However, if the election were today, I think that Williams would win. Still almost a week to go, though…
I’m not touching the Wilmington or Sussex council races, and I know that there are readers with far more insight into those races than I could provide. Also, it goes w/o saying that I’m by no means all-knowing, and, in fact, I’m doing this in part to generate intelligent discussion of the various races. So please try to offer persuasive analysis that differs with mine. ‘Tick-tock’ is not persuasive analysis, in case you weren’t sure.
Tags: Delaware General Assembly, El Somnambulo, New Castle County Elections, Steve Tanzer Delaware, Wilmington Mayoral Election 2012
El…missed hearing you on WDEL. Have to say I think you have done a good assessment of the Wilmington Mayoral race. Don’t know that I agree with when the candidates peaked. Think its more of when they got tripped up or caught up in it all. I do think Montgomery shot himself in the foot & is slowly dieing. Kelley keeps building steam & that scares me. Dennis got too defensive in debates, but does incredibly well when talking one on one with citizens. I think this election may be won by less than 100 votes, so how people vote is very important.
Sam Wilson wins one of the GOP Sussex Council races. His opponent has not returned any reporter’s phone calls, AFAIK.
Simpson beats Opaliski.
Rogers beats Mayor. Name recognition.
Booth over Bodie, but just barely.
Don Ayotte was on WGMD this morning with his usual craziness. He said the Joan Deaver signs around the 3rd Council District that were vandalized with neon spray paint that said things like “lie” and “asshole” were “democrat on democrat” vandalism. But there is no other Democrat running. ???
Ayotte also blamed Deaver for a project that didn’t pass, saying that she had a “vendetta” against the person who wanted to build, but Deaver is one of 5 council members and she can’t stop or start anything without 2 other votes.
I urge everyone to support Joan Deaver in November with your time, money and effort. She is the ONLY thing standing between Sussex County and the bat shit crazy.
Oh, yeah, Wangen bodyslams Ayotte ten feet into the ground. I hope.
Ayotte is a whack job. It’s an indication of nature and character of his supporters that they would vandalize Deaver signs. I haven’t seen any of the vandalism. However, I am guessing that it took place west of Harbeson Road.
That someone would vote for him tells me a lot about his supporters. That he courts supports like that tells me a lot about him.
I’ve never heard a candidate whine about sign vandalism who went on to win the election.
Carper ’90-92 daily did he cry about Danny Rappa as it turned out unecesarily;)
I don’t think I’ve ever heard a candidate who *didn’t* complain about signs. Real or not, it seems to be an understood way of making you look like a threat worthy of having your signs messed with.
I was in North Wilm over the weekend and saw the “Sean” signs. Had no idea who or what they were for. Thanks for the answer.
I noticed Dennis Williams had to pay people to lit drop for him.
How much did you get?
hahaha…not me!
So then how do you know?
It’s listed under expenses in his campaign finance report…duh!
“So please try to offer persuasive analysis that differs with mine. ‘Tick-tock’ is not persuasive analysis, in case you weren’t sure.”…. Some things are NOT analysis …Tick, Tock…….. BTW your comment on Bullock is proof that you can write with your head up your……
Couple of things:
@puck who is whining about sign vandalism? Private property owners can do what they want to advocate who they want to. Its clear that certain districts are pro-Montgomery but they can do whatever they want. If someone was literally out stealing signs, that would be fucked up, but that’s basically like spraying graffiti. Who cares.
@AQC wait, a political campaign paying people to do stuff for them? SHOCKING. SHOCKED.
@willminster I like Kelley too. I feel bad for him after the Rollins thing. That being said I still don’t see, just on paper, how Williams wouldn’t win since its a minority city. Its like saying Obama won’t win because minorities are either too lazy or unable to vote for some reason. And I’m not a huge, huge fan of Tom Gordon. I mean how could he get hosed by that woman so badly? Guy needs to get a divorce attorney or something next time.
BUT is he capable of handling government even though he got hosed in 2008 with this “your the bad guy” 2008 bullshit with women? Absolutely
I haven’t seen these snake signs, but I’m considering moving to the 10th District just so I can vote “HELL YES!” for Sean Matthews. El Somnambulo don’t know shit about campaigning. Snakes win elections. A snake-free democracy is no democracy I want to live in, no siree.
No, SussexWatcher, Marie Mayor will win Tuesday’s Primary in the Lewes-Milton area, because her opponent’s “name recognition” exists only among people who lived here before he last ran for election years ago. His signs are as faded as his ideas.
Most voters here now support Marie Mayor because of her forward-looking, practical ideas for our economy and her superior education and experience.
You’ll be surprised by the success of Marie Mayor’s truly grassroots campaign.
@Alex…I am a Dennis Williams supporter & as such know we have to keep our eyes on whatever is happening. Met with Dennis last night& his team has a very strong action plan for this last week. Remember Dennis has won 9 times & what he knows best is the street. This election should be interesting in the relation between social media & voting results. Kelley has a big lead in Facebook Likes, it would be real interesting to see who those people are, I suspect they do not live in the city, also how much did he spend on FB ads. My curiosity is: Do FB ads translate into votes? I’m hoping not.
Lester – Rogers was in office for what, 12 years? He only has been out for four. And he’s got the fire company connection. I don’t doubt Mayor’s hard work, but 1-on-1 she is not impressive. That said, turnout will depend heavily on the race in the 6th and the overlapping areas. If Staton wins big, Mayor may, as well.
Besides, I hear all the newspaper copy editors in the district are organizing against her because of the confusion caused by her name in headlines. 😉
I was talking with some candidates last evening. No one seems to have a good feel for how the City Council races will turn out, especially with 8 in the At-Large race.
Anyone out there with some Wilmington City Council predictions?
Very much like signs, Facebook likes don’t vote, but they are one way to evaluate campaign energy.
it would be real interesting to see who those people are, I suspect they do not live in the city
Says someone who doesn’t live in the city.
@cassandra… True I don’t live in the City, but I guarantee you I am In the City more hours per day than you & most people. As it is said, “Small Business People Live & Breath Their Business”. They also pay more taxes & create more revenue for the City than the average city resident. I can also state with extreme confidence that my program helped create 361 jobs in Downtown over the last 4 years & that’s during a recession. With the right leadership coming to the office of Mayor our plans are to enable 1200 new jobs & 1000’s of new residents. Hopefully, you & others will go to City Council tonight where another great group West Side Grows presents their plan to Council. It is plans like this & what we are doing Downtown, that coordinated with the City will allow Wilmington to prosper. Oh, & please come to 700 Market St. tomorrow when we start removing the unsightly exterior gates from businesses & restoring the buildings facades. Statistics prove the investments we are making, each $ produces a 27X return. And we are just getting started!
@cassandra_m—- Very much like signs, Facebook likes don’t vote, but they are one way to evaluate campaign energy. It would be real interesting to see who those people are, I suspect they do not live in the city.
You’re correct signs not vote. A large number of home owners in my area including myself have Montgomery signs and some have Kelley signs. But from what I heard some only but these signs up because they knew them and did not what to hurt their feeling because they are not voting for either of them because they have done nothing for the city in over twelve years.
@Will — your point about Kelley’s Facebook Likes had to do with people eligible to vote in the City, which given the medium, is tough to tell. Everyone knows you work in the city — when you offer that kind of critique, you should be sure to point out where you vote.
@saveourcity:
But from what I heard some only but these signs up because they knew them and did not what to hurt their feeling because they are not voting for either of them because they have done nothing for the city in over twelve years.
Funny, this “path of least resistance” story is similar to what I hear about some folks taking Williams signs — avoiding the explosive consequences, shall we say.
@cassandra…I wasn’t critiqueing as much as studying which calls for assumptions. I am very curious from not only the political, but also from a business perspective how Facebook ads translate into actions. You brought in the point that I don’t live in the City. I really wish you would go back to being the very intelligent person I first met instead of these pointless little snipes. I’m sorry I’ve even lowered myself to that. Debating is essential, but unfortunately the more I read these posts, the more I find it a waste of my time.
It’s my overall perception that a lot of the FB supporters for each candidate don’t live in the city either, so it is tough to comprehend how voting will go. It still looks to be anybody’s race to me. And I am sure it’s true for all three major contenders that some people have signs under duress and out of politeness not only because I have heard the same rumors, but because these are high profile guys with a lot of influence in certain pockets of the city. But that influence doesn’t mean it extends behind that polling place curtain.
The NJ is running a series on each candidate leading up to election day. Yesterday’s was on Kelley–it was written in such a way that I wasn’t sure how much (beyond quotes) was Kelley’s opinion and what was the writer’s. From my view Kelley did not come off well even though the writer was slanted in his favor. Haven’t seen today’s.
Taschner was heard saying that she doesn’t have to do a thing except knock on doors and show up at forums and parades – that the DEM party is doing everything else for her including writing her materials and putting her through ‘candidate school’. (This was second hand from the R in the race who observed it at the Mt. Ezion debate FWIW).
A look at her campaign reports shows a whole lot of trouble, if you believe that developers and their attorneys pay to play.
@Will: Studying involves reading, observing and asking questions. As Kiki notes, FB followers for all of the candidates have a decent smattering of people who are not in the city, but then, that is built into the Facebook cake. Since DPW has been running a fair number of Facebook ads, you’d think you have real data available to you about how Facebook ads translate into actions. But then no one gets all of their Likes from ads.
You were the one asking how many of Kelley’s Likes were from the City. Do you know how many of DPW’s Likes are from the City? Anyone who is studying starts with the data available to him. Right?
So you are welcome to dance away from what you can’t argue by taking your marbles and going home — you won’t be the first who found he couldn’t manage being challenged here, which is all we are arguing about really.
@Kiki…Good observations…I really didn’t know how to read yesterdays editorial by Rhonda. I thought she was endorsing Kelley. Then I read today’s about Bill. I’ve never really liked her writing style.
@Cassandra…I haven’t had a chance to review Dennis’ Likes, but I will after the election. Considering Kevin’s are at 1784 it will be valuable to know after the election. At that time I will ask each of the candidates if that info could be made available respecting peoples privacy though.
Cassandra, I can argue any point & will go toe to toe with anyone as long as they are rational & don’t try to just get digs in. Those that do that I have no desire to now or in the future. Obviously, when it does come time to talk about plans I’ll need to talk to someone else in Quaker Hill.
@ Will – Yes today’s about Bill was odd – it didn’t seem a part of the same series, it seemed empty and just off somehow. I figured if a writer was endorsing a candidate they’d have different writers do each story (strange also) but to have someone who seemed very pro Kelley tackle the rest is odd–interesting to read the next few and compare.
@Kiki…Yeah, I agree, I thought she was endorsing Kelley, which is fine. But to then do Bill it wasn’t impartial. She did a piece a while ago against Dennis, so I can’t imagine she would be fair. I’ve read pieces of hers I could not even understand before.On the flip side: the previous ones done about each candidate by the NJ were very good, though I don’t think they explored Bovell & Spencer enough. And the 3 part on crime was excellent, it made me think a lot.
Anything written by Rhonda Graham should be ignored. Why she is still at the paper I do not know. She writes like she is illiterate. And despite the fact that her sole subject – EVER – is the plight of Wilmington, she manages to get a ton of stuff factually wrong.
At what point does someone call out Sam Wilson for his views and ideals? I remain amazed at the free pass he continues to get.
I think Mayor wins the 20th district primary as long as she and Jones don’t split the vote and allow Rogers to sneak in. People ought to be getting the idea that Rogers isn’t really a Democrat, especially in the last couple of weeks when his campaign signs have started appearing on Hudson properties. Smyk comes across as a real jerk, but I’m concerned that this district wasn’t drawn to be quite as Democrat friendly as the new senate district was, and he just might win unless his opponent is Rogers. If Rogers is the pick, then we’re left with the choice of a DINO, Bob Venables-type Democrat, or someone who isn’t afraid to call himself a Republican.
Smyck the dick. – his nickname. And there is a good reason for it
He is a nasty arrogant piece of work- had the opportunity to stand close by some time ago and listen to him run his mouth unguarded
At best he is a bigot- i will leave the worse case scenario up to the reader
Do you think Rhonda Graham supports Dennis Williams? Not
“Does Williams want the job? Or is he too tired?” – SLAM
“Pooker Jones aint no good, gonna chop her up for fire wood”
That was a hell of a column. While Rhonda is an idiot, Williams didn’t do himself any favors by backing out of the interview and pleading exhaustion. Does he think the mayor’s office is going to be a cakewalk?
The exhaustion comment was Ed Osborne which I can’t believe he said. The last thing Dennis is, is tired. The guy won’t stop pounding the pavement. I think Ed is tired of trying to keep up with him. I don’t think Rhonda deserved an interview, there was nothing good going to come from it. If a real journalist was asking the questions, now that’s a different story. I know that’s critical, but I can’t understand a thing she writes. Today’s & yesterday’s just did circles.
She is a terrible writer, no doubt. But it’s another sign of the perceived arrogance of this candidate to blow off the press (however loosely that term applies to Rhonda) the week leading up to the primary. Especially when the other two pieces covered candidates that appeared to have spoken with her. It’s just not how you play the game. I completely understand the absurdity of Rhonda’s being legitimatized here as someone covering the candidates in depth, but she is in that position this week whether you like her reports or not. For any candidate at this point to refuse a request for an interview because nothing good will come of it, or you are tired of the press, or you don’t think this reporter is worthy of a phone call – it is just like deciding you are done with the debates. And it doesn’t bode well for a candidate claiming everyone gets a seat at the table when he is elected.
This type of thing seems to keep happening with Williams and it baffles me. The excuse that every negative perception about him is wrong when his behavior and his people’s (the Osborne comment) offer negative attitudes over and over again has worn thin. “Nothing good” comes from picking and choosing who you will associate with in such a public manner time and again while campaigning. Why in the world would it be any different once he is in office? If anything I think it would be worse.
Perception is 99% of this battle. Not saying the other guys haven’t fallen down here and there, they absolutely have–and I agree with you Will that no one has really ran an effective campaign–but consistently, Williams has shown himself to be too busy or tired or whatever to do things he, for whatever reason, doesn’t want to do. I associate that quality with him as I do the fact that Kelley likes to play basketball with the kids on the corner, because that is what I keep seeing and hearing over and over.
I don’t even think I am offering this as criticism at this point–I think I am just really confused as to why a candidate in a race that is nowhere near over or tagged with a certain outcome would behave this way.
Rhonda did give DPW some incredible praise — crediting him with whittling down a state deficit of $800 trillion. Just double-checked my math. Current state budget is just shy of $3.6 billion — meaning the state would have had to spend at that rate (with no incoming revenue) for a mere 222,222 years to amass a deficit of that magnitude.
Guess you just can’t believe anything you read in the papers anymore.
I’m trying to imagine any qualified mayoral candidate in my lifetime refusing to meet with the News-Journal editorial board. Reminds me of Romney’s fear of releasing his tax returns.
“I don’t think Rhonda deserved an interview, there was nothing good going to come from it.”
One large cup of arrogance, no sugar.
As for Rhonda, no matter what your opinion of her skills, at this point she’s half the News Journal editorial board.
Until his Baker impersonation over the last few weeks, I was fine with Dennis Williams being the next mayor. Now I’m not so sure.
Arrogance indeed. Politician 101 is that you take every opportunity to ask for votes and that includes talking to the newspaper of record, no matter what you think of them. I’d bet alot of money that Mayor Baker wouldn’t have blown off the NJ, and yet Williams has pretty much spent this entire campaign picking and choosing who he’ll speak to. What a train wreck.
“The exhaustion comment was Ed Osborne which I can’t believe he said.
By having Ed call Rhonda back, DPW made him a campaign spokesman by default. That’s the breaks. If you want to control the message, call back yourself.
There’s a professional way to handle the media, and there’s an amateurish way. The professional way to deal with a jackass reporter or editor is give them the bare minimum and freeze the fuckers out on the really good stuff. The amateurish way is to have a garage owner call up the writer and say that the candidate is exhausted. And if you’re running your campaign like an amateur, how are you going to run the city?
@SW — Well, maybe Ed made the call because Will was too busy to do it.
Seriously, the professional way to handle media for a campaign for a position as significant as mayor is to have someone on your staff (either paid or volunteer) who has experience dealing with the media and knows who the key players are. Couple months ago, a friend told me he had advised Williams to get some help with media relations. He didn’t listen. This is what he gets.
So, we’ve got a candidate who is tired of debates, too tired to deal with the biggest media outlet in the state, doesn’t listen to reasonable advice, and demonstrates many of the character traits that have made the current mayor unpopular.
I think Wilmington deserves better.
@Media Watch, love your comment about the deficit.
“Pooker Jones aint no good, gonna chop her up for firewood”
Geezer, love your comment too about not being sure any more.
“Pooker Jones aint no good, gonna chop her up for firewood”
@mediawatch…Got what you are saying, but not sure what you expect. Do the other candidates have some media machine. Yes, Will is very busy & no Will is not a Communication Director & is only consulting. Sorry Wilmington doesn’t live up to your expectations. In Dennis’ defense, none of the other candidates are beubg judged the way he is. & once elected will people join or bash?
I, for one, will support Dennis if he wins the primary, but I don’t believe he is the only one who has gotten judged.
I am judging everyone. I have to vote for one of them.
I’m judging everyone too. And the bar is pretty high.
The bar is high & should be. We should be able to expect more. Unfortunately, as I talk to people who would be good leaders & administrators they say they would never subject their families to the torture. The really bad negative ads are about to start, is it legal to lie in political ads? When does it become slander? I don’t know the answer. It just bothers me that the best never run.
It’s called public service for a reason. In this day and age anyone choosing that path knows what he or she is getting into. I admire that certainly. The best one can do is be honest about the position and decide whether or not it’s worth it, the call to serve. I have little sympathy for a candidate that hasn’t had that conversation with his or herself. It’s tough. Deal. Or bow out. Because any elected official with worth will tell you–this is the easy part.
@Kiki…I get that, but I know a lot of people who are doing or support good causes who would make great leaders. When asked about politics they it is the last thing they would ever do because of the attacks. It’s just not worth it, but that doesn’t stop them from working behind the scenes. I guess my point is: Maybe political ads should be held to the same standards that businesses & products are. If you cannot prove your claim, you cannot make it. Which I believe needs to be stricter because there is so much misleading advertising. I don’t know the answer & don’t want to mess with freedom of speech, but too many have crossed the line to slander, false accusations, false claims when people just want the truth & they will make their choice. Because marketing today is based on psychology it is very hard for the average person to make a choice. Even we who try to know as much as we can about candidates don’t know the real facts & often make statements based on emotion. I don’t know…Just thinking.