“After trying to save her sinking candidacy with awkward turns of flattery and sarcasm, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton resorted to a new tactic in Tuesday night’s debate: self pity.”

That’s the opening paragraph to this Ron Fournier article about the negativity in the campaigns of the Democratic nominees. His commentary about the debate in Ohio makes sense, but seems unfounded when talking to people from there.

For anyone that managed to miss the Ohio debate last week, here’s a funny recap, compliments of Jon Stewart.

“I think it’s very close between the campaigns—I don’t think there’s much difference,” says Emmett Buell, Richard Lugar Professor of Public Policy at Denison, and co-author of the forthcoming book Attack Politics: Negativity in Presidential Campaigns Since 1960..

As a matter of fact, Ohio voters seem to care more about the issues than the types of campaigns being put on by the candidates. But if either candidate is being more negative the sense is that it’s Hillary. Buell noted that this is just an impression.

“People are interested in the end of the day your vision for the future, and that’s what Barack’s talking about,” said Reid Cherily, an Ohio spokesman for the Obama campaign.

However, people who have openly endorsed Clinton seem capable and willing to defend her decision to run a more offensive campaign towards Obama.

“It’s not dirty politics. It’s not made up. It’s real—he [Obama] has little experience,” says Don Plusquellic. Mayor of Akron, who has openly endorsed Clinton.

However, it’s impossible to tell right now who is ahead in the polls; this RealClearPolitics.com poll has Clinton leading Obama 49 to 42. However, over at bizjournals.com, Obama is at 47 to Clinton’s 45.

Regardless of who’s winning in the polls (they rarely seem to give us accurate predictions these days anyway) it cannot be attributed to mudslinging in the campaigns, because voters don’t seem to care about that much.

What’s more important at this stage in the game is why Clinton has chosen to defend herself with a thorough offense. She definitely has her reasons.

“She’s in a very difficult situation because she’s figured out that’s she’s a polarizer and he’s not,” says Buell.

The true sea change for However, for Clinton has come in the form of Republicans. In response to the attacks from the Republican party on Obama, Clinton’s rival has turned his attention away from her and has shifted to fighting against them.

The reason Obama and McCain exchanging barbs should scare Clinton is because they are behaving as if Obama is already the nominee. McCain no longer has to split his energy attacking both of them, because he no longer considers Clinton a contender. Therefore her desperation tactic, as Buell called it, is understandable.

“She’s seen the momentum move towards Obama and she’s trying to stop that,” said Bill Callahan, a digital vision staff director that worked on the One Ohio project with Governor Strickland. He also lives in Cleveland and stated that this area is typically more liberal than the rest of the state.