Not that low, really, according to voters.

Memo to pundits and media: Try to keep your underclothes unentangled over negative advertising.

Most voters (55%) say the tone of this year’s presidential campaign is about the same as in other recent election years, despite complaints from Barack Obama’s side and some in the media that John McCain has been campaigning negatively.

Only 23% say this election cycle is more negative than most, and nearly as many (20%) say it’s more positive than in recent years, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey (see crosstabs).

Seventy-nine percent (79%) of voters say the media report more on negative campaigning than on issues. Only 11% say the media report on issues more.