More Mud slinging?

One has to wonder if it is necessary to run negative ads in your campaign or not. John Edwards had planned to run a positive campaign 4 years ago. He said he wanted to run based on his ideas for changing the country from two Americas to one America. He got a sound trouncing as soon as the other folks in the race started throwing dirt and inuendos. Have we really turned into a country just looking for the low down on the candidates, or do we really want leadership. We have now come to the point in the campaign when many will do what ever it takes to win. I for one hope that the next leader of this great nation acts presidential, even before they win the office. What do you think?