The Dubious Impact of Political Ads

The language in the meme here is ambiguous, and I have to guess deliberately so.  What does “move the needle” actually mean?  Causing more than 5% to change their votes?  Impossible.

Like many of the midterm races, Wisconsin’s senate contest pits a MAGA/Big Lie/climate denier/Trump supporter, in this case, Ron Johnson, against a centrist democrat, Mandela Barnes, the state’s centrist (and sane) lieutenant governor.

Yes, Barnes is at the receiving end of vicious attack ads, but does it seem even remotely possible that the good people of Wisconsin are going to flip because Barnes is suddenly being portrayed by his opponent as “soft on crime” or whatever cliche the Johnson campaign can invent?

I seriously doubt it.