I agree. I was taught if you can't say anything nice about someone, not to say anything.

Instant run-off voting sounds like a reasonable process to me. There are some legislators who are for it, including John McCain, Howard Dean and Barack Obama (source: FairVote - Home..) North Carolina recently passed legislation for IRV, and there are IRV proposals on a few ballots. So it is gaining interest around the country.

Hmm.. perhaps if each one of us wrote letters to candidates stating our disgust at negative campaigns, calling them on their actions and holding them responsible, we would see less and less of this.