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Political Ads Tie Opponents to Clinton

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RALEIGH — Politics can be dirty and filled with personal attacks. Now, both major parties, which funnel barrels of money into local campaigns, say they are going to stop paying for personal attack ads.

The real trick may be drawing the line between personal attacks and professional criticism.

The Dan Page campaign was the first totie the Clinton scandal to a congressional race. They predicted other campaigns would follow their lead. And they have.

An ad from Republican congressional candidate Tom Roberg started running in the Triangle Monday.

"You have negative ads in the sense that they're not telling people to vote me, because I will do these things. They're saying don't vote for that fella," said Democratic Campaign Advisor Barlow Herget.

Some analysts fear the next round of campaign ads will use some of the most salacious material from the Starr Grand Jury and maybe even soundbites from the presidential tapes.

Some believe ads based on the Clinton scandal could be very effective. Others say that strategy could backfire, and that opinion is easily split along party lines.

Many Republicans say linking their opponents with Bill Clinton gives them an advantage. Democrats say most people will be tired of the whole issue by election day, and they will not be hurt at the polls.

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