JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -

The barrage of negative television commercials and attacks during the debates have turned off some voters, but they're still on the air because many political strategists say they work.

What some have called the "Battle in Boca" was a war of words between the candidates.

"I know you haven't been in a position to execute foreign policy, but every time you've offered an opinion you've been wrong," President Barack Obama told Gov. Mitt Romney on Monday night.

The attacks continued on the campaign trail.

"He calls his campaign, slogan, 'Forward.' I think 'forewarned' is a better term," Romney said on Tuesday.

But the attacks are a turn off for average voters other politicians -- although they tend to be most critical of attacks from the other side.

"The kind of personal and small-minded attacks that he made, on Gov. Romney, I don't think the American people like that," said Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona. "It certainly isn't presidential."

"They thought it was presidential the way Gov. Romney talks to our president of the United States?" said Tony Hill, former state senator who is a member of the Democratic National Committee.

A neutral observer -- University of North Florida professor Michael Binder -- believes the powerful political punches may sway the vote.

"Negative campaigning works," Binder said. "Now, all voters are going to say, they 'hate negative campaigning, it's terrible, the worst thing for democracy,' but it works. It can drive out turnout; it certainly doesn't drive down turnout."

Tuesday night's U.S. Senate debate between Republican Rep. Connie Mack and the incumbent, Democrat Bill Nelson, was even more bitter. The TV commercials in the race have been even worse.

"Meet Connie Mack IV, a promoter for Hooters with a history of bar room brawling," says a Nelson commercial.

"After 40 years in politics, Bill Nelson has learned how to milk the system," says a Mack commercial.

Binder believes the negative campaigns are not all bad.

"You need to put them together with everything that you see, read, watch," Binder said. "But there are bits of information that are valuable, and if the voter is interested, maybe one ad sparks their interest."

With thousands of votes are already cast and with early voting starting Saturday, up to one-third of the ballots may be filled out before Election Day. But don't expect the ads to stop until the polls open.