Many voters feel that the political climate during this midterm campaign season has been unusually nasty, and some say that may affect how they vote.

“Some of the things they say are quite horrible,” said Elaine Marsden, a British citizen working in the United States.  “The ads here are much worse than in England.”

Polling by the Rasmussen Report shows that 40 percent of adults say there is more negative political advertising this election year than in previous years and 47 percent think the number is about the same as in past election years. Either way, voters are sick of it.

“I don’t know that it’s any different than it ever was,” said Beryl Dubay, 86, of the attack ads.  She said that her husband had complained about mudslinging campaign ads before his death several years ago.

Some voters think candidates feel the need to attack each other just to keep up.

“I think people feel that if they don't respond to an attack campaign with a reciprocal attack, they will lose in the eyes of the public,” said Caitlin Wolff, a mother of two who says her hobby is medieval re-enactment.

Along with increased nastiness, this election cycle has been characterized by increased spending, and many people feel that candidates won’t be able to compete in this environment without money from private interests. Recent polling by Rasmussen finds that 44 percent of voters say that it isn’t possible to win a campaign today without raising money from lobbyists.

But despite the fact that voters seem to feel that candidates can’t be competitive without slinging a little mud, voters don’t seem to respond well to the ads.  Fifty-six percent of voters say these types of ads make them less likely to vote for the candidate behind them, according to polling.  The ads may even be driving some voters away entirely, making them so disinterested in politics that they don’t intend to vote at all.

“I don’t like any of the candidates,” said Hans Hoeg, 39, a medical engineer.

Reach reporter Braden Holly here.

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