The Swift Boat attack on Kerry [3] uses a classic [third party] propaganda tactic [4]: have PR professionals [such as Merrie Spaeth] [5] organize and launch a well-funded [6] smear attack [7], an ad hominem barrage against Kerry's integrity, and do it through a front group [8] with enough separation from the Bush campaign to pretend independence. Then use the right-wing echo chamber [9] to keep the issue alive and churning, spitting plenty of mud and confusion. It's a strategy that is virtually guaranteed to hurt Kerry in the polls [10].