Ancient negative political ad: "he disgraced himself by going down to the market and buying a girl to be his sex slave."

Campaign tips

Excerpts:

1. Promise everything to everyone. .... tell them what they want to hear
2. Call in all favors. If you have helped friends or associates in the past, let them know that it's payback time
3. Know your opponent's weaknesses—and exploit them.
4. Flatter voters shamelessly. ... A candidate must make voters believe that he thinks they're important. Shake their hands, look them in the eye, listen to their problems.
5. Give people hope.

Comment: BC political advice. Some things never change. Post title:

Quintus practically invented opposition research: "Consider Antonius, who once had his property confiscated for debt…then after he was elected as praetor, he disgraced himself by going down to the market and buying a girl to be his sex slave." A winning candidate calmly assesses his opponent and then focuses relentlessly on his weaknesses, all the while trying to distract voters from his strengths.

More on Cicero