Times have changed.

When I helped run political campaigns 20 years ago, it was not uncommon to point out a disagreement with an opponent on a matter of policy. But back then it was usually done in an accurate and respectful way. The bulk of a campaign was dedicated to a candidate talking about his or her positive vision and the solutions they proposed to for the problems we faced.

But more recently, it seems that campaigns have devolved into nothing more than negative, insulting 30-second attack ads. We are barraged by snarky pieces of mail with an unflattering picture of a candidate and massive distortions of their record. Candidates attempt to win not by providing a compelling positive vision, but by arguing their opponent is a bad person.

Since the beginning of my political career I have rejected this form of campaigning. I believe it trivializes the issues, turns people off to the political process and, even worse, insults the dedicated citizens who are engaged in the process. Each election cycle one of the first pieces of mail I send out is a pledge that I will run an all-positive campaign, that my mail and TV will not insult my opposition, and that I will talk about why I think my ideas and record of accomplishment warrant my election. Once made, this pledge is always kept.

It's not always easy. When someone attacks your character, lies about you, or tries to embarrass your family, your instinct is to strike back. However, in those moments, I think of my children reading my own campaign mail and whether or not I would be proud to have them do so. I then try to reach deep down and get in touch with what Lincoln referred to as "the better angels of our nature," and stay positive.

I have always hoped that I would eventually have an opponent who respected the voters enough to want to have an intelligent debate about issues. No name-calling, no ugly hate mail, but an invigorating philosophical discussion on what's best for our future.

When I decided to run for the Senate and found out that Lance Rogers was going to be my opponent, I allowed myself a moment of optimism. I had known Lance as a Lower Merion Commissioner and he had always been very courteous to me and my family. My optimism was enhanced when we met at a Chamber of Commerce dinner and he shook my hand, and pledged that he would join me in running an all-positive campaign. We both expressly agreed that we would give the people the type of campaign they deserve.

Unfortunately, my optimism has proved to be misplaced by the type of campaign my opponent has chosen to run. After being extremely negative toward his primary opponent, Lisa Paolino, his general election campaign has also been almost entirely negative. All of his campaign communications ignore the important issues that confront our state, and instead use distortion and out-right lies in an attempt to paint me as corrupt, dishonest, and even evil.

The most disturbing smear has been a shameful TV commercial claiming that I am "protecting cocaine and heroin users by weakening our DUI laws." I have a wife and two children who drive on the road every day. They mean absolutely everything to me. Why would I do anything to make them less safe? In reality, the DUI legislation that I passed toughens the law by creating blood levels so that people driving on drugs can be convicted - previously there were no such levels, and getting convictions was accordingly difficult for prosecutors. My proposal, as part of the larger DUI reform bill, passed unanimously in both the House and Senate.

One of Lance's three pieces of negative mail (and counting) alleges that I "voted for luxury cars for politicians." In reality, my proposal brought Hybrid cars to the state fleet - a good policy that saves both the environment and your tax dollars. In his latest mailing, Lance even ridicules my family's name, something I've not heard since roughly kindergarten.

Let's be clear: while Lance has had nothing to say and no solutions to offer on the environment, education, health care, crime, civil rights, or any other actual issue we face. When our families are faced with rising healthcare costs, a national economy in crisis, and the effects of global
warming, is this really what we need?

For my part, I again pledge to stay all-positive. If people want a Senator who will run the most negative ads, they have a clear option. But I challenge Lance to rethink the kind of campaign he is running and join me in renewing our pledge to run a positive, respectful and substantive campaign. The kind that, as Lance once said, "the people deserve."


Rep. Daylin Leach