There has been a trend in the local election campaigning here (NH). Virtually all of the ads I've seen on TV or received in the mail have been attack ads on named Democrat candidates with NIO mention of the Republican/Whacko party candidates. What I end up with are the Democrat's names in my head, which I will remember on election day.

This is why attack ads don't work--at least not when you don't provide an alternative candidate. IMO