John McCain increases his use of negative advertising in a unique way. The McCain camp attacks Obama labeling him as an elitist on Burma-Shave-style billboards along a highway in South Dakota. Burma-Shave-style billboards are a row of street signs with short phrases on them that was an innovative technique pioneered by the Burma-Vita Advertising Company in 1926.

The signs say 'Barack is Sipping' 'Fine Champagne' 'While U.S. Jobs' 'Go Down the Drain' 'McCain '08.'

Although this advertisement will only be seen by a small number of people driving through that area, it has impact. Even when advertisements are in an area where few see it, the message spreads like wild fire once it gets on the Internet.

The Internet has been a new medium for harsher than ever negative advertising. Viral marketing of political advertisements is prevalent all over the Internet, and the topic of negative advertising in general has been a hot topic this election, especially costs and the harshness.

If advertising is this negative in 2008, I can't even imagine how bad it will be in the elections to come. I know that political advertising is protected by the 1st amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but I feel like with the lies and manipulation, some kind of regulation is needed for political advertising.