Why are the Republicans campaigning so negative so early? Normally you do that to try to stop people from ?

Question

voting. What can they gain from fewer people voting?

Answer 1

They want to have a decent poll lead coming out of the convention.  They won't be able to catch up in the next eight weeks if they don't.

The only way to do that is going negative.

Answer 2

Huh, you are right that negativity does shoo away people from voting. Campaigning so negatively also has to do with being an underdog. I wonder if there's a connection? ;)

Answer 3

They hope being negative will either get them votes or stop people from voting for Obama.

Answer 4

I agree, this tactic of attacking early is going to counter on them. They should have learned a thing or two from Hillary and avoided a negative campaign.