Une des “plus sales campagnes” de l’histoire US

Derrière les sourires convenus et, de plus en plus souvent au travers d’échanges sans aménité (Hillary Clinton et Barack Obama le 5 janvier lors d’une table ronde des candidats démocrates), la tension de la campagne présidentielle US est palpable. Juste avant la primaire de l’Iowa, le 3 janvier, une rapide analyse de ABC.News détaillait la méthode qu’emploient certains candidats (du moins suppose-t-on puisque la chose est anonymes, à partir de commandes anonymes faites à des sociétés elles-mêmes très discrètes).

La technique détaillée ici consiste en une simili campagne de sondages introduisant des questions qui impliquent négativement des candidats, à partir de déclarations ou de prises de position qu’ils n’ont pas nécessairement faites ou affirmées. Un expert de la question, Larry Sabato qui est directeur du Center for Politics de l’université de Virginie, qualifie cette campagne électorale, – avant même qu'elle ait commencé, – de “l’une des plus sales campagnes de l’histoire américaine”. Le résultat de ces appels est parfois surprenant…

«Even before the first vote is cast, 2008 is being called “one of the dirtiest campaigns in American history” by a political science professor who is tracking campaign dirty tricks and opposition research attacks on rival candidates.

»“When you're spending this much money, and there's this much at stake, you're going to have dirty tricks played,” says Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, in an interview for a ''20/20'' report tomorrow.

»The negative phone calls are known by experts as push poll calls because they push negative information.

»“Some foreign policy experts say that John Edwards' plan to pull out all combat troops in Iraq within the next 10 months is irresponsible,” says the questioner. “Does this statement influence your feeling about John Edwards a lot, somewhat, not too much, or not at all?”

»On Obama, the caller says, “Barack Obama has taken millions of dollars from big banking and energy interests that have legislation before the Senate. Does this influence your feeling about Barack Obama a lot, somewhat, not too much, or not at all?”

»The caller said the calls were coming from an “independent research firm.” The caller ID showed no return number, only 000-000-0000.

»The call made no reference to Sen. Hillary Clinton, whose campaign spokesman “categorically denied” it had any connection to the Clinton campaign.

»“It was actually kind of sneaky the way they were worded,” said Des Moines schoolteacher Shari Baeth, who recorded the calls for broadcast on ‘20/20.’

»She says the most recent negative call, and another one earlier that favored Edwards (whose campaign also denies using push polls), convinced her to support Obama at the caucus tonight. “Of the top three, he's the only one I've not received those calls from,” she told ‘20/20.’»

Mis en ligne le 7 janvier 2008 à 10H30