That's what reporter Joe Hagan calls the current onslaught of Super PAC funded negative advertising - which he projects will only get worse as we dig further into the election.
Here is his cover story about this in the New York Magazine, and a radio interview he did about it later.
Among the points he raises is that millions of dollars are now being spent by Super PACs on opposition research, and they are uncovering far more than any investigative reporter can about any and all of the candidates. They actually develop relationships with reporters in order to get their stories out when they think they will be most effective. They also have sophisticated communications operations that turn this content into effective advertising.
Its a good inside look at today's - post Citizens United - world.
