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Looking at the GOP race it appears that the candidates doing the most attacking of their opponents are successful in harming those they attack, but hurting themselves. The beneficiaries of their attacks are the candidates who have stayed about the fray.
The biggest attackers in the GOP race - both in the debates and in the candidates statements - have been Santorum, Bachmann, Romney and Perry. Santorum and Bachmann have targeted both Perry and Romney. Romney has focused on Perry and Perry on Romney.
The attacks have succeeded in plunging Perry in the polls and doing some harm to Romney. But the beneficiaries of the attacks have not been the attackers but the "let's get along" guys: Cain and Gingrich. Santorum has not moved from his pathetically low popularity and Bachmann has plunged in popularity. Cain has seen a big rise in his popularity and Gingrich has risen in the polls as well.
I know this is a Democratic blog site but the observation may hold meaning to races of either party. It says something about campaign strategies in multi-candidate races versus head-to- head battles.
In head- to- head battles, attacks help the attacker much more because there is no other candidate for the voter to go to. But in multi-candidate fields, the attacker comes off as strident and mean and the voter has the chance to change his allegiance to a third candidate who has remained composed and friendly.