--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Candidates use their negative message to…" description: "\"Candidates use their negative message to highlight a contrast with their opponent that helps define themselves positively.\" — Neera Tanden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/neera-tanden-4361_candidates_candidates-use-their-negative-message-to_3190411.jpg" --- # Candidates use their negative message to highlight a… ![“Candidates use their negative message to highlight a contrast with their opponent that helps define themselves positively.” quote by Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/neera-tanden-4361_candidates_candidates-use-their-negative-message-to_3190411.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/neera-tanden-4361_candidates_candidates-use-their-negative-message-to_3190411.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/neera-tanden-4361_candidates_candidates-use-their-negative-message-to_3190411.jpg) > “Candidates use their negative message to highlight a contrast with their opponent that helps define themselves positively.” [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Candidates frame opponents' negative messages to create a positive self‑definition and contrast. **In simple terms:** Use opponent criticism to highlight your strengths. Key Takeaway Turn attacks into branding opportunities. Themes politics branding contrast Mood strategic confident Type persuasive analytical When to use this quote - election debates - advertising - public statements Key Concepts framing negative campaigning identity construction Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure the contrast remains truthful? - What risks arise from over‑emphasizing differences? A Different Perspective Opponents may ignore the nuance, making the contrast seem simplistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candidates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidates/) [Candidates Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidates-use-934228/) [Contrast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrast/) [Contrast Opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrast-opponent-5883240/) [Message](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/message/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [Negative Message](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-message-878565/) [Opponent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opponent/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Use Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-negative-1853273/) ## Related quotes > [If you want to be successful.. Don't use the negative side of opposite words and acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khabat-h/if-you-want-to-be-successful-don-t-use-the-negative-side-of-opposite/) [Khabat H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khabat-h/) > [Many candidates use a political autobiography to sell their candidacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/many-candidates-use-a-political-autobiography-to-sell-their-candidacy/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [In politics there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers, and then there are those like John McCain who use their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/in-politics-there-are-some-candidates-who-use-change-to-promote-their/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [When something keeps happening over and over again, consider it a sign that it needs to be dealt with. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-cunningham/i-believe-in-the-people-of-our-state-and-making-sure-the-voices-of/) [Cal Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-cunningham/) > [Emotional Literacy means being able to recognise what you are feeling, so that it doesn't interfere with thinking. It becomes another dimension to draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-orbach/emotional-literacy-means-being-able-to-recognise-what-you-are-feeling/) [Susie Orbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-orbach/) > [Which is probably the reason why I work exclusively in black and white... to highlight that contrast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/which-is-probably-the-reason-why-i-work-exclusively-in-black-and/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [The approach of intellect or noesis will forever be an effete and limited sort of thing by contrast with the vigor and color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/the-approach-of-intellect-or-noesis-will-forever-be-an-effete-and/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [You don't merely give over your creativity to making a film - you give over your life! In theatre, by contrast, you live these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/you-don-t-merely-give-over-your-creativity-to-making-a-film-you-give/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) ## More by Neera Tanden > [Between 2009 and 2012, 95% of the country's income gains went to the top 1% of earners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/between-2009-and-2012-95-of-the-country-s-income-gains-went-to-the/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [The Democratic Party, the policies that the Clintons and Hillary believe in, I feel like a living example of someone who benefited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/the-democratic-party-the-policies-that-the-clintons-and-hillary/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [So far Trump has done everything he could possibly do to pit Americans against each other, to sow division, to fuel distrust of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/so-far-trump-has-done-everything-he-could-possibly-do-to-pit/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I concede that, in the first 18 months of his presidency, Obama has not accomplished all that he campaigned on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-concede-that-in-the-first-18-months-of-his-presidency-obama-has-not/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [Would Americans really feel better with insurance companies deciding whether they or their parents get the care they need? Probably not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/would-americans-really-feel-better-with-insurance-companies-deciding/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I think a core principle of the Democratic Party has to be a defense of equal rights for every American. At the same time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-think-a-core-principle-of-the-democratic-party-has-to-be-a-defense/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [How exactly was Johnson able to pass the Great Society legislation and the Voting Rights Act? Of course, he was a savvy deal-maker. 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America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [It is time Britain put its trust back into the Labour Party. I believe I am the candidate that can make this happen precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/it-is-time-britain-put-its-trust-back-into-the-labour-party-i-believe/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [I like candidates who tell me something that is going to make a difference to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-richards/i-like-candidates-who-tell-me-something-that-is-going-to-make-a/) [Ann Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-richards/) > [The reason that minorities and women don't have a better shot at getting elected to the Senate or to statewide office is because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-moseley-braun/the-reason-that-minorities-and-women-don-t-have-a-better-shot-at/) [Carol Moseley Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-moseley-braun/) > [Hillary Clinton is the least popular candidate for president ever except for Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-pickering/hillary-clinton-is-the-least-popular-candidate-for-president-ever/) [Charlie Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-pickering/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has taken American politics by storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/republican-presidential-candidate-donald-trump-has-taken-american/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) > [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. 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