A term used to describe a person who attempts to
discredit an opponent, especially in a political race, by spreading
vicious rumors (that may or may not be true).
Its literal meaning, to sling mud, would just be to throw mud at someone. (Note: This is always a bad idea, much like mudslinging during a
political campaign.)
This is a very
poor election
strategy, because it just shows that the
candidate is unable to
prove themselves
worthy of the position, so they must instead make themselves look better than their
opponent through whatever means
possible.
When
Andrew Jackson was
elected 7th
President of the United States, there was a great deal of this
mudslinging technique used due to the fact that many opposed his
Jacksonian Democracy philosophies.