#VoteBike - 2012 London Mayoral elections

Exactly my point - the personalisation of campaigning allows you to see the poin where a candidate will draw the line, and how far they will go across that line to get the power they crave.

I don't understand this argument at all. Personalisation to me means that policies, content, and meaningful discussions about what the candidates would bring to the job recede into the background. I think that leadership qualities and political understanding are naturally tested if the issues are on the table.

Just because someone gets personal with you, doesn't mean you have to lower yourself to their level. Again to the apolitical bystander Ken dug himself a grave with his Tax mumblings

Yes, that was his big mistake. I'm sure the Tories were only waiting to unveil the personal attack based on tax arrangements, but first they needed a hook on which they could hang the charge of hypocrisy, and he gave it to them.

Actually I don't think missmouse shares your point. By PR machines, missmouse was suggesting that personal shit slinging isn't a function of how much shit there is to sling, but who slings it loudest. Ken's "gaffes" were not gaffes in the traditional sense, rather an unashamed refusal to play media political game.

There were certainly many incidents that conform to your description, except, I think, for the tax thing. That was different, and perhaps the first time Livingstone had made such a mistake.