mudslinging

Defined
A personal attack made by one candidate or campaign against another.

Example
The Post's Jonathan Mummolo, describing a local county board, said of its election process "It's not your typical elected office. There are no fundraising reports, no heated debates and not a lot of mudslinging." (The Washington Post, November 1, 2007)

HISTORY
Originating from the Latin phrase "fortiter calumniari, aliquia adhaerebit," or "Throw plenty of dirt and some of it will stick," dirt-throwing has evolved into "mudslinging." Adlai Stevenson, said of mudslinging in 1954, "He who slings mud generally loses ground." (Source: William Safire's "New Political Dictionary").

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