rather than "vote for the candidate." Point out what the party stands for, what it has done, what it plans to do, and dump on the other side for all the bad votes it has made in Congress and all the bad things it plans to do. Make the candidate a secondary consideration: by all means, emphasize the candidate's competence and experience that suits them for the office in question. But stress what good things the party stands for, and what bad things the oppo stands for. This way would strengthen all candidates, and make very clear the principles and programs that the candidates support.
In other words, don't waste time attacking the other candidate(s) for past sins (unless the sins are deliciously egregious). Instead attack the whole lot of them for supporting bad ideas. And if necessary, explain why the ideas are bad.
This way we would have a battle of ideas instead of all the bloody smearing and muckraking.
Comments, please.