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Behind the Headlines: Do attack ads still pack the same political punch?

"Daisy" is one of the most famous political ads ever used.
Wikimedia Commons
"Daisy" is one of the most famous political ads ever used.

In our weekly "Behind the Headlines" segment, St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh discusses the top news stories that caught St. Louisans’ attention this week, with the people who produced them and contributed to them.

This week, we discussed political ads and their impact on elections with Saint Louis University political science professor Ken Warren. 

There are four main types of political ads these days, Warren said: introductory, stances on issues, true negative ads and false negative ads. False negative ads usually make the most impact. 

One of the most prominent examples of this kind of ad was one employed by Lyndon B. Johnson against Barry Goldwater during the 1964 presidential election, known simply as "Daisy." 

Listen as Warren discusses the historical uses of political ads and their effectiveness today: 

St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards, Alex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region. 

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Kelly Moffitt joined St. Louis Public Radio in 2015 as an online producer for St. Louis Public Radio's talk shows St. Louis on the Air.