Is the lowball offer something you can live with? Or is it a real painful choice? (Obviously you don't knwo yet.)
I'm no expert in this, but I think the only real tool you have in any negotiation like this is the willingness to walk away. If they see you walking away and know it's only about money and that you otherwise would love to work there, then they may toss you a bone.
Oh wait, there's another tool. Do you have any pictures of this HR guy getting serviced by a hooker?
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