For anyone who needed a reality check, this article in Ad Age shows that there has been an increase in negative ads since the last election. "The McCain campaign's decision to turn 100% of its advertising messages to negative attacks on Sen. Barack Obama last week -- combined with the 34% of Mr. Obama's messages attacking Sen. John McCain -- means that negative ads this time are outpacing those of four years ago in the race between President George W. Bush and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry."

Obama ad "This Year" Attacks McCain for His Attack Ads: