[okie01]

This primary campaign war is taking a toll on both candidates.

The price we pay or one candidate's most highly developed political skill being poisoning the well.

[Nero Germanicus]

Seems to me that’s both candidates’ most highly developed political skill.
When you can’t get a 30% favorability rating, the well is poisoned.
Even a loser like Obama has a favorability rating around 50% at this juncture.