Island Vote: Attack ads get nasty, personal

If it seems like attack ads this political season are getting nastier and dirtier than ever, that's because they are, according to political consultant Micahel Dawidziak. "Every year we say, 'This

News 12 Staff

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Nov 4, 2016, 4:10 AM

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Updated 2,970 days ago

If it seems like attack ads this political season are getting nastier and dirtier than ever, that's because they are, according to political consultant Micahel Dawidziak.

"Every year we say, 'This is the nastiest campaign on record,' and every year we are right," Dawidziak told News 12 Long Island. "It does get nastier and nastier."

It can get personal, too. The New York State Democratic Committee sent out pieces of mail featuring state Sen. Michael Venditto with the headline "Venditto, Mangano arrested on corruption charges."

But Venditto was not arrested. Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, the state senator's father, is the one facing federal corruption charges.

Dawidziak says campaigns only develop these kinds of ads because they believe they work.

"The old saying goes you can't throw mud without getting some on you, so odds are you're going to depress some of your own vote as well," says Dawidziak.

Many people who spoke with News 12 said they have had enough of the negative ads and have become numb to them.

"A week and a half ago, I decided I wasn't going to look at the politics anymore. It's the worst thing I've ever seen," says Manuela Perez, of Oakdale.