See this even down to the local level. Conservatives play fair and get upbraided for trivial BS. The other side cares not one whit what real actual lives they destroy in the pursuit of their goals.
Saw this very thing happen in the mayoral election Nov 8th of this year. The candidate was accused of being fired from his job for stealing, tax fraud, drug use and dealing,etc.
None of it true but it caused the loss of a lot of votes. All the accusations were made on a local messaging board by an actual drug user/dealer, medicare/food atamp fraud. But enough believed it that the election was lost to the Dem incumbent that was accused of absentee voter fraud in the primary.