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There's almost surely more to come. "Some of these stories, if they check out and if they get legs they can really affect how people vote. In close races, opposition research can make a difference," said Mike Gehrke, who spent several election cycles as a Democratic opposition researcher. But opposition research can backfire or simply fall flat. "There are so many different channels for it now -- TV ads, web videos, e-mail, blogs, radio, direct mail. The message can become so fractured that people tune it out," said Kevin Madden, a Republican communications strategist. "It has to be potent." Political operatives on both sides compile reams of information on candidates' personal backgrounds and professional records. Divorce files and housing documents are mined. Video appearances and audio recordings are collected. Rumors of wrongdoing are chased down. Politically damaging disclosures eventually are leaked by allies to local media outlets or posted without fingerprints on the Internet, giving candidates plausible deniability so voters don't hold them accountable for negative campaigning. In many cases, the information finds its way into TV ads in a campaign's final weeks. Timing is important: Plant information too early and voters may forget about it, too late and they may not learn about it before heading to the polls. And so, with four weeks until Election Day, the disclosures and allegations pile higher. House Democrats are contending that eight Republican hopefuls around the country "with disturbing backgrounds and legal problems" were recruited and endorsed by House GOP leaders. A news release asks: "Did Republican leaders know
-- or just not care -- about their Republican recruits' lies, harassment of women, lawsuits, tax cheating, assault and altogether negligent behavior?" One of those candidates, Tom Ganley in Ohio, is having to respond to a lawsuit filed by a 39-year-old Cleveland woman who says he propositioned and groped her in 2009 after she tried to volunteer for his campaign. Ganley denies the accusations, and his lawyer contends there's a political motive. In New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District, a new TV ad by Democratic Rep. John Adler accuses GOP challenger John Runyan of trying to call his massive house a farm. Says the ad: "Runyan bought one donkey to get a $20,000 tax break by saying he lives on a farm. Luckily he was caught."
[Associated
Press;
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