I agree, completely. people are so influenced by the media and if they hear something enough it becomes their reality I guess.

We once had a federal election here where one party focused on the fact the leader of the other (the Prime Minister Tony Abbott) had worn Speedo's (called "budgie smugglers here for obvious reasons) while he was competing in a triathlon - how dare he dress in anything but a suit! Seriously, speedos, like everyone else in the triathlon! The population caught on and it became a big negative. I mean seriously, how dumb can people be? Well, really dumb is the answer I guess.

It's a popularity contest mainly as most every day people don't have much of a clue on how the policies will effect them moving forward.