Electrons are attracted to protons, and repelled by other electrons, so when the balloon was pushed near the wall, the electrons in the wall rushed away, leaving exposed protons. ... Graph that and you find that the electron's highest probability is close to the center of the atom, but not inside it. Add It Up. read more
Oh but they do! They must attract according to the electromagnetic force that they interact with. Electrons also repel other electrons and protons repel other protons. The electromagnetic attraction between electrons and protons is precisely what keeps the electrons from drifting away from the nucleus. read more
They do attract each other, that is why electrons stick to the nucleus, forming an atom. However, they cannot get any closer than they are in nature, because they already are where the equations of quantum mechanics tell us they should be according to their energy. read more