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From Willie Horton to windsurfing: Five top political attack ads

Political attacks ads: love 'em or hate 'em, but they鈥檙e here to stay, and this election year stands to be a watershed moment in their use. Here's a look at what are considered to be some of the most memorable and effective attack ads utilized over the years. 

2. 'Playing games with the military'

  • By Mike Eckel Contributor

WHAT: 鈥淢cGovern Defense鈥� 

WHEN: 1972

WHO: Sen. George McGovern (D) of South Dakota vs. President Richard M. Nixon (R)

BACKGROUND: Former Treasury Secretary John Connally created an organization called 鈥淒emocrats for Nixon鈥� to campaign against McGovern. This ad, coming with the Vietnam War still raging, focused on McGovern鈥檚 proposed cutbacks to military spending. It was one of several hard-hitting spots that sought to use McGovern鈥檚 statements against him, and helped lead to Nixon a landslide defeat of him.

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