Most negative political ads of 2012 so far

The 2012 presidential race has been more blistering, negative and caustic than the race four years ago — and the general election hasn’t even officially started yet.

According to a study by the Wesleyan Media Project, 70 percent of campaign ads run so far this election cycle have been negative, compared with 9 percent over the same period of time in the 2008 presidential campaign. Super PACs, the big-money outside groups well-known for carpet-bombing opponents with attack ads are largely to blame, according to the study. Outside groups have been responsible for 60 percent of all ads aired so far this year, according to the study. Of those ads, 86 percent were negative, and 14 percent were positive. But for all their big spending, super PAC aren’t the only culprits.