So this post turns out to be the conventional wisdom. Dionne and one of the Florida papers linked below both point out the problem of nailing an opponent. Doaks’ strategy in California probably wasn’t the deciding factor for Republicans. The California GOP are true believers and they voted like it. The pulled what could be called a New Jersey and decided being right was more important than getting rid of the pompous blowhole of a governor with a socially liberal fiscal conservative. Running the ads had little to do with it. The ads in Florida have backfired because it is a flawed strategy. Those who try and practice this are doing it at their own peril.