Mudslinging 101: If Ayers doesn't work. . .

. . . then bring up Reverend Wright. If you can't win with your own message, why not try a wedge issue or two? What's that, you say? You say that 60% of the electorate doesn't think Ayers is a legitimate issue? Well, he's a former angry white guy. Better try the angry black guy card instead. 

That'll rally the baser instincts of the base.