In politics, the preferred way to deal with a negative story is, of course, to ignore it. Act as though it is of such slight importance, so obviously untrue, and peddled by such disreputable sources that it isn’t worth your attention. You have far more important things to do. Much loftier challenges. A country to run. And so forth.

You don’t want to give the story status by denying it. Though, of course, sometimes you must.