So it looks as if GOP Rep. Nancy Johnson's increasingly bizarre ads -- one was christened the most evil ad "ever" by a local paper, while another shows Dem Chris Murphy hanging out with a drug dealer -- are not only failing, but may to a small extent be working against Johnson. A new poll just out from the Hartford Courant finds that Murphy has is holding a four-point lead over Johnson, 46%-42%. And check out this tidbit: "This atmosphere of negativity, however, seems to have hurt Johnson more than Murphy," the Courant says. "When the sample was asked whose ads have been more negative, 34 percent said Johnson's, and 29 percent said Murphy's ads were more negative." This isn't the biggest difference, of course, but it suggests her ads are at least not helping. View the drug-dealer ad below.