(Jake Turcotte)
Obama’s spending how much on ads?
By Jimmy Orr | 10.15.08
It’s been a week of non-surprises thus far. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has been suspended - again. Marcia Brady (Maureen McCormick) admits she had a fling with Greg Brady (Barry Williams). And Barack Obama is spending a lot of money on ads.
A lot of money.
Not only did Obama go the Ross Perot route and buy up 30-minute infomercials to be run on networks a week prior to the election, but his spending so far this month has been through the roof.
The Washington Post this morning reports that Obama has outspent McCain 3 - 1 last week and 2 - 1 when combining McCain’s spending with the Republican National Committee’s independent expenditures.
Battlegrounds
Obama’s going heavy, not surprisingly, in the tightly contested regions, spending more than $32 million in 17 battleground states last week alone.
As for McCain, his campaign dropped $10 million last week in 14 states while the RNC pumped in an additional $6 million in spending.
These numbers are similar to overall spending for the primary and the general election. Politico reports that during this period Obama has spent $195 million on political ads compared to $99 million by McCain.
Bullhorn
Evan Tracey, the founder of the Media Analysis Group, says “McCain is in a shouting match against a man with a bullhorn.”
“Obama is on pace to spend more on TV in the final 25 days of this election than John McCain’s entire $85 million matching-fund check,” he said. “For those keeping score at home, Obama has aired more than 25,000 commercials in the past four days alone.”
Buying the election?
So, that’s the difference, right? Obama is way ahead in the polls because of the almighty dollar. Probably not.
Those on the right and the left agree that this is a bad year for Republicans. A really bad year. The dissastisfaction with the Bush presidency and the economic collapse have drowned out everything. People are upset and they are projecting their anger at the GOP.
Ads ineffective
Former John Edwards adviser Joe Trippi told the Washington Post’s Howard Kurtz yesterday that he thinks the ads aren’t making much of a difference because of the economic climate.
“Most people are looking at the financial crisis, looking at their 401(k)s, and in between they’re seeing the two candidates beat the living daylights out of each other and rolling their eyes,” he said.
Deja 1992
This year appears to be an encore performance of 1992’s “It’s the economy, stupid!” Or as Ed Rollins suggested, this year’s motto should be, “You morons, what have you done with my money, my life, and my kids’ future?”
Some impact
Democratic strategist, Howard Wolfson, offers a good point though this morning. The former communications director for Hillary Clinton has a unique perspective on Barack Obama and the campaign. His take? Sure, it’s noisy now, but the narrative ads over time have had their impact.
“Make no mistake — all the wonderful bio ads that the Obama campaign has been running have had an impact by allowing the campaign to impart critical information about their candidate that voters would not now otherwise be hearing or seeing,” he writes on his blog at the New Republic.
<< McCain’s brother blasts McCain campaign | MainComments
2. Emlyn | 10.15.08
If money is indeed what it takes to unseat the troglodytic, religulous warmongers, then so be it.
3. Tom Mariner | 10.15.08
Hey, what’s the fuss about buying an election. The Obama campaign has shown the slippery political skills that come along once a generation. The last time was Joesph Kennedy warning his operatives “Don’t buy a single vote more than necessary. I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide.”
And the ACORN voter fraud stuff is just payback for Florida’s hanging chad. I saw the Hollywood movie that said so. My bet is that Leanardo Dicaprio is will play the head of ACORN in the documentary on how that organization not only had nothing to do with the sub prime mortages but actually saved America from the scourge of free markets and prosperity.
4. David T. | 10.15.08
$195 million is a lot of money… so is $99 million for that matter. I guess our candidates are sitting in the back pockets of several interested parties. I’d be curious to know what those parties expect in exchange for such large “contributions”.
My opinion is as follows: All campaign contributions should be placed in a “pool” and divided equally among all the candidates to ensure no special interest groups can expect unrealistic “favors” in return for the cash. Let’s put all the candidates on a level playing field and go from there.
5. voter | 10.15.08
It is a good thing because Palin will hurt the country;her ordeal in Alaska is very bad. The previous governor was removed for the same thing, why is she still in office? She lacks the ability, knowledge, maturity, honesty,
ability to interact with various groups, her thinking process is much too small like the 6th grade. McCain let the party down, he should have elected
another official as VP. He or she would be more responsive to the crisis as a whole. Why is she a member if the Alaskan Independance Party? Why did she
build the stadium on someones private property? Why did she leave her mayor
job then left them in 22 million dollars debt? Who does she really represent?
8. Jim Sheppard | 10.15.08
Hey, Christian Science Monitor, were you around the last two presidential election terms when the RNC way outspent the DNC? Did you report that? Did you consider that buying an election? Are you just as fair and balanced as Fox News?
9. Jack | 10.15.08
The presidential campaign has been about money since the 1960 Kennedy/Nixon Presidential campaign.
Nothing new here.
Nothing is going to change.
Until we stop allowing our political decisions to be based on capitalism and take the steps neccesary to separate election campaigns from money altogether.
10. Voter | 10.15.08
Why is Palin hooked up with a witch doctor? What are her christen Values?
What is her abortion beliefs? Did she allow her husband who is not an authorized officials get on her government computer then review confidential
records? Why are the native Alaskan restricted from fishing? Why are they
living poorly? Why have she not visited them? She has a lot of nurves talking about people when her back yard is not clean.
12. Victory | 10.15.08
Did Palin finish high school? What grades did she get? How did she get
elected? Was there a special trick to get ecected or with the help of a
witch doctor?
13. shadow | 10.15.08
Do you buy a 52″ plasma TV and then say that “my company pays me more than what I am worth and so I have so much money and I bought that TV”? Then why do you blame the govt and banks for us buying the houses paying more than their worth? It is we who spend all the money in buying home more than their worth.
So instead of asking someone “You morons, what have you done with my money, my life, and my kids’ future?”, look in the mirror and ask the same to yourself.
14. kevin h | 10.15.08
Funny! Why would they have to buy NBC? From what I can tell they own it already anyway.
16. John | 10.15.08
I think that other nations will look at our election and say U.S. elections are looking alot like ours…
17. Jenn | 10.15.08
They thing is…………. Bush did this to Gore (outsepnt him) ….and Kerry, though not as much…… whats the big shocker???? Now that it tables are turned, it some big surpirse and “not fair”?? Come on…..
18. cec | 10.15.08
david t.
good idea. im sure there would be a lot of campaign donations using your plan. i for one would be thrilled to donate if i knew half of my money would be going to the candidate i opposed.
also as far as these large donations, mccains money came from the federal government via the tax payers and obamas from personal donations to his website.
19. PulSamsara | 10.15.08
—————————————————————————–
Why would America REWARD complete Republican failure ?
We wont.
20. MoMof3 | 10.15.08
McCain pinned himself into his hole by taking the presidential campaign funds which then put his candidacy behind the rules and regulations that come with taking the funds. This is why the RNC had to put forth money and ad’s to compete with Obama. Also, I signed up to get both parties e-mails for informational purposes and McCain asks for a $500.00 donation whereas Obama asks for $5.00. This is the true reflection of their ideals as well, McCain for the rich and Obama for the everyday citizen who can afford to send $5 and not $500
21. Andrew | 10.15.08
Um, Obama can spend nearly 3 to 1 on ads over McCain because Obama refused taxpayer assistance for his campaign. That meant he had no spending cap. McCain was capped at $70 million because he relied on government funding. Those are the rules. Obama took the riskier move but it paid off BIG. Sounds like a good plan for the country right now, actually.
22. PrincetonNJ | 10.15.08
John McCain executed the tried and true Republican strategy of appealing to the depths of American ignorance and arrogance. Unfortunately for him, the enormous suffering of the almighty American wallet is so severe that even the phoney god fearing, jingoists are unwilling to risk the future of this country on yet one more rich white guy intent on raping us in broad daylight. George Bush struggeled for 8 years to find his legacy..well he got it….running our country, our economy, and our global stature into the ground. Thank you Rebublicans!
23. Frank Stallone | 10.15.08
I’d be interested to see a total from all candidates to date, including primaries, which have been spent on this campaign. I’d estimate it is roughly a billion (thousand million) dollars, between the hundreds of millions Obama raised, the several hundred million Hillary raised, McCain’s 85 million, and all the other also-ran candidates.
24. Jimmy | 10.15.08
With the past few elections dictated through fear it is nice to see this kind of blitz, especially with so many of the ads being positive instead of the usual attack ads.
But really Obama’s strength right now is more due to the failure of the republican ads. In the last election they scared people into keeping the status quo. That worked when times were good, but now that the economy is failing people do not want the status quo. The attack and fear tactics are not as effective when people want a change to fix things. It is like the Republicans are caught up playing http://www.barackwhack.com/ instead of telling us how they will move the country forward.
25. OnePercent | 10.15.08
Obama spends more money because he has raised more money than McCain. I contributed $100 and am glad my money is helping his campaign.
26. average guy | 10.15.08
these comments are stupid. have any of you looked into where the money came from? the majority of obama’s funds are coming in small increments from contributors in the gen. pop. because he’s not using money from the govt(like mc cain) he’s not bound by laws which limit spending.
the money is from the people who support a guy that really seems to want to make a difference for our country. and he is spending it to make sure he gets in office and delivers for the people who support him.
stop whining that the ignoramus you wish could win is in fact losing. losing because A) he doesn’t have a plan to help anyone but the rich, B) he’s a liar and a buffoon, C) he picked an idiot and a liar for a VP.
If you’re still supporting McCain, please pull your head out of the sand and address:
1. Why other POWs call him “Songbird”
2. Why was he abusing his power in trying to help his personal friend Keating, the bank CEO in the S&L scandal
3. Why Palin endorses the anti-American Alaskan Independence Party
4. Why McCain has suppressed legislation to allow freedom of information on POWs
5. Why Palin denies abusing her authority to get her ex-brother in law fired
6. Why is he just trying to bring the other candidate down, rather than speaking on the issues to try to elevate himself
27. kevin h | 10.15.08
Seriously, if Obama is able to avoid any serious fallout from opting out of the presidential campaign system- a long held, worthy bedrock Democratic position- the presidency as we know it will be forever changed.
From the day after the election for the next four years Obama will be under a great deal of pressure to raise even more funds and keep his deep pocketed donors happy because nobody will ever play under the fair system, where each candidate gets equal money, again.
A presidential aspirant like Romney will be able to raise funds full-time for the 2012 race and Obama will have to spend time in office keeping up, or he will lose his ability to completely shape and frame the debate which is proving so successful to his run.
The big dollars not only buy advertisements, they also pay for staffers to pore through the internet removing contemporaneous accounts of Obama’s past that contradict his current campaign positions and possibly embarrassing information related to Vera Baker and the late Donald Young.
28. John | 10.15.08
Obama has raised a tremendous ammount of money from ordinary people, the same ordinary people who wont vote for Sen. McCain. I think this shows that at last the people have their say in the election process. Just because McCain cant raise the same contributions does not mean that Obama bought the election. Flat out absurd!
29. More of the Same | 10.15.08
Its just more of what is wrong with the economy, more greed and more taking from people who do not have money. This is sick that people think this greedy candidate has any clue about the economy when he is doing exactly what all the banks and financial institutions did. Oh ya give us your money and we give you … Stop this people this candidate is exactly what is wrong with the US. You want change from the last 8 years, vote McCain and vote in the best people for Congress. It’s that simple - it’s not President Bush’s fault Congress would not act and would not work together. This is happening in serveral states as well CA, IL and other where the State House and Senate are not working together. Time to elect new people - Obama is nothing new.
McCain is running a responsible campaign trying to get information out that the media is ignoring and not presenting to the people, when is the last time you even saw John McCain on the news - the last debate? The media is being very unfair to this candidate, just saying its a negative campaign, it isn’t - but you would not know it since you are not hearing from him.
Even if 50% as they say Obama has - donated $25 this does not add up…
30. If they could they would | 10.15.08
If the media could pick on McCain or Palin more than they do already they would that is why, nothing is said about Palin’s actions as governer, nothing is said about McCain’s voting or past things. There is nothing there people, meanwhile they are hiding every mistake and failure by Obama. Bad speach, pulled sorry we were asked to remove this transcript. And no this is not Fox, this is CNN, Wall Street Journal and all the rest of the media outlets.
People wake up this is a very bad candidate.
Democrats for McCain
32. Lease vs. Buy | 10.15.08
“You need to start thinking Joe! Why buy the mainline networks and cable news networks, when we already have them in our back pocket?”
- Obama
33. Infomercial | 10.15.08
Lets not forget McCain has infomercials too.
“ive fallen, and I cant get up”
Haven’t you seen those?
34. Beverly C | 10.15.08
As someone who’s donated $20 to Obama every month for the last year and half, I’m glad to see my money’s being spent to help elect an intelligent, thoughtful, principled person to the highest office in the land. A lot of us are voting with our tiny pocketbooks this year and, in the end, we’ll get a president who looks out for our interests, not the interests the GOP has been protecting for the last 8 years. I mean, after the Repblican party breaks our military, our economy and our honorable reputation, why wouldn’t a patriotic American pay good money to support someone who’s respected by the international community, sane about military intervention and cool headed about economic policy?
35. D-now-R for McCain | 10.15.08
if he thinks the answer is bribery and throwing tons of money toward something, what is he going to do if he gets elected?
if obsama is elected, I guess he and all of his supporters, judging by what they say about women, will put women back 100 years. Think they’ll take away women’s votes? Take away their rights? Take away their freedoms?
you betcha.
36. Dan | 10.15.08
To support Obama, I’ve been donating to Ron Paul. Obama has enough money.
No real right-winger is going to vote for Obama, so why even try. The best way to reduce votes for McCain is to split people off his voter base onto candidates that actually reflect their real beliefs. Ron Paul will never win, nor will any of the religious-nuts who think McCain isn’t born-again enough. However, they have a nice fat collection of right-wingers who are ready to accept that McCain isn’t going to win and would rather vote for their true beliefs than for a man they don’t believe in.
So…. just in case, send those right-wing third parties some cash. That’s what Obama should do with his extra money!
Go RON PAUL! Split that party!! Hurray!!!
37. Josh | 10.15.08
This is all very interesting. Probably before the next 4 years are over many of you folks, that will have to pay for Obama, will wish you had Bush back. It’s amasing how gullible people are. After reading the hatred of the liberals, i am almost looking forward to the Obama legacy. It is going to be very interesting. i only hope we will still have enough conservative legislators left to prevent him and pelosi form destroying freedon and democracy in this country. Socialism and dictatorship always come after Democracy expires.
38. ds | 10.15.08
Obama should make an infomercial just to showcase the lies and half-truths that his campaign has been putting out there during this election. That would definetely take up an entire half hour to hour, right?
The lies and half truths just never stop coming from the right. strange they are usually considered the religious ones. Last I checked, lying is still a sin, right?
39. Rob Parker | 10.15.08
Republicans spent $1.14 billion during the 2004 election: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A35062-2004Dec29?language=printer
Raised $75.4 million in 2000:
http://www.cfinst.org/president/pdf/fullreport.pdf -> .pdf page #97
Also see:
http://www.brookings.edu/gs/cf/Financing2000/ch06.pdf
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/conventions/republican/features/platform.00/
40. Beverly C | 10.15.08
I’s “amasing” how anyone can think that, with the shape this country’s in, we should actually even consider letting the GOP run things for another 4 years. How much worse off could we really be: 2 wars with no end in sight, an economy that’s melting down faster than the polar ice caps, the alienation of our one time allies and a reputation for torturing our enemies. Really, could a little bit of socialism even come close to these disasters? I’ve lived and worked in countries with national health care, VAT and tight environmental restrictions. Wasn’t all that bad. Got taken care of when I was sick, kids got a decent education and I didn’t have to be embarrassed about the country’s leadership or destruction of the global climate. There are things much worse than taxation, I hate to tell you.
41. Jon | 10.15.08
It’s been said before, but Obama can only afford to do this because people donate to his campaign so that it can succeed. McCain chose to take taxpayer money, which was guaranteed but came with a cap. Obama took a risk, and because of how people see him, his campaign is (currently) more successful.
As far as the argument that **** put an end to the free market and prosperity - I don’t see how anyone can believe that. If anything, **** increase regulation and oversight, which if you’ve been reading, listening or watching anything recently is exactly what was lacking because of the failed policies of at least 3 former administrations.
42. DICK BOHANON | 10.15.08
did you vote for george bush twice? should i vote for george bush again?
when you refuse to be acountable for your past votes,how can i think you might vote intelligently this time.
if you owned your poor decisions,you would be truly sorry for what you have done to the rest of us.
are you?
43. Damon Devine | 10.15.08
For #7: I’ll tell you what’s “obscene.” John McCain’s 8 houses and 13 cars, not to mention the fact that he said “Middle Class” is anyone who made less than 5 MILLION dollars a year!
Doesn’t sound like “Joe Six Pack” to me…..
44. Vic | 10.15.08
I contributed $25 to the Obama campaign. It was easy and cheap. Obama has a great fundraising tool - the internet. McCain need to learn how to use it. Obama’s campaign money comes from small donors.
45. Mark | 10.15.08
Ok, you conservatives need to drop the socialism BS. You know it’s not true, and it only serves to shed more light on the fact that you have NOTHING to offer to the American people aside from four more years of failed and misguided policies. If you want to point out faults in Obama, then find something that’s real. He has faults. You just sound stupid when you try to make him out to be a socialist. He’s no more a socialist than McCain is a fascist.
46. wolf | 10.15.08
It’s just more of the same rhetoric from a party without ideas: Instill fear of those different from ourselves, blame the media for not buying into your tag lines, and pretend everything is honky-dory in America.
The Republicans are on the verge of losing not merely an election, but rather, an entire generation of Americans. We are here, because we followed GW Bush. We are here because he lied to us. And we are here, because McCain promises in many of his speeches, that he will continue those same policies.
He doesn’t believe they’re bad. And that’s why he’s losing.
— an Independent for Obama
47. Curtis | 10.15.08
In our zeal to replace Bush we will do anything. That includes not thinking and analyzing who we are electing. All politicians lie. The only things that one has to vote on is our gut level instincts about what they will do. One would be stupid to believe what they say on stage or in an advertisement, no matter how eloquently.
Regarding the economy, the markets are a barometer of what is to come not what has past. The markets fear change and Obama is an unknown with no clear track record. He said that he will raise the capital gains tax thus, there is little sense for anyone to invest in American markets. The markets dropped after every Obama primary win weakening an already weak financial system. Now with a victory for Obama in sight they are spinning out of control. The markets will never recover and those whose retirement savings have been depleted will never live long enough to recover. Though Bush was an abomination there is nothing that says it will not get much worse under Obama. The lawsuit regarding Obama’s birth in Kenya has a lot of merit and there is a good chance that he will be forced from office in disgrace sometime in the future and all of this becomes a moot point. If not, we are doomed.
48. Marlene | 10.15.08
Let’s go Obama . Hope you win because your the right chioce to be our next pres.
49. vj | 10.15.08
Nice post Beverly C. ” I’ve lived and worked in countries with national health care, VAT and tight environmental restrictions. Wasn’t all that bad. Got taken care of when I was sick, kids got a decent education and I didn’t have to be embarrassed about the country’s leadership or destruction of the global climate. ”
Then why are you here? Go back to those wonderful places. Every other country is playing with socialism so you have a wonderful set of choices. There is only one country practicing the capitalist way of life. In the name of diversity let’s keep it that that way. And one could easily argue that socialist programs that forced banks to make risky loans backed by the government are the source this current mess.
50. Tads | 10.15.08
I believe the money buoying up the Obama campaign is mostly pouring in from the grassroots, the little people who’ve just had enough of where America has been the last 8 years and are doing what they can to help change it. I’m from Australia and I donated $50 to Obama. He’s the man to fix what ails ya 
51. reto | 10.15.08
“It’s time for them to own their failure”, quoting Barak Obama our next president
52. arizona | 10.15.08
I honestly have to laugh at some of the posts. The ignorance and self righteousness amuses me to no end. In this day of easy fact checks and investigation there are still folks out there that think they can bully there way into office and arguments.
So if I may, please let me show a few folks how easy it is to make an informed decision.
It takes less then 10 clicks to find out what each candidates positions are on several issues.
It takes less then 6 clicks to verify a fact from three different sources.
It takes less than 5 clicks to find out historical data on nearly any subject brought up in this election cycle.
And for the brutally honest truth, we already have been beaten over the head with Ayers from the Clintons. Yes we do remember the primary’s and the numerous debates and stories. Thats why we know who Senator Obama is, we paid attention. That’s all, just paid attention.
Just so folks feel equal, Ill give everyone the secret to finding info on the net.
http://www.google.com
Enjoy!
53. Tom Payne | 10.15.08
It’s not often that the Dems have more cash than the repugs, who, I’m certain miss Tom the hammer Delay and his extortion of donors during his reign of terror.
Guess the crash of Wall Street has limited the donations from the greed and corruption of CEO’s to the GOP, who have been funneling money to McShame.
I guess this proves the old axiom that what goes around, comes around.
Here comes Barack and Joe, to re-regulate the industries that have put a 33,000 debt on me even though I haven’t over leveraged myself or bought things I couldn’t afford.
54. Rod | 10.15.08
Obama knows he is in a close race despite the media attention giving him the lead in polls everyday. Unless he is ahead by 10% in the polls it means nothing and McCain could win on election day. Obama knows that the media is in the tank for him as well as half these polls and yet he is only ahead by 2%-6% something is wrong??? he should be up by 20%. Lets face it, the only news that is fair to McCain, is Fox news and thats it, period. Obama knows the truth and thats why he is spending all the money, fact of the matter is the Dems have been in the lead of every election poll since 1976, but have only won a couple of elections after the vote was in. The facts and the votes are the only thing that matter here, we have never elected anyone to office through a poll and never will and people need to wake up and get out of this poll bubble they are living in cause it just might burst come election day.
55. Joseph | 10.15.08
Why does this article not mention WHERE Barack got all this money to spend? The VAST majority came from small donors contributing less than $100.00 each. Those who are sick of what this Administration has done to our country, our constitution and our standing in the world. The reptile brains can whine all they want. The rest of us are ready to evolve out of our national adolescence.
Obama/Biden 08
56. Joe Elliott | 10.15.08
Having once been a newsman, I just wish the main stream media would be the profesionals they’re supposed to be. Report the news ojectively and fairly. That’s not what is happening. The newsrooms are making and shaping public opinion favoring “their” candidate over the other candidate. The media have taken away the priviledged right of individual Americans to make an informed decision based on fair and balance reporting of the news. It is wrong. It will lead to greater strife.
57. Rod | 10.15.08
Tads, Do you live in Australia? Cause I do not think its legal for Obama to take money from anyone outside of the USA, just food for thought.
58. Russ V | 10.16.08
I’ve read all the above comments and I would have to agree that all of us have our own views of the truth. Each party will conclude victory after the debate tonight despite any real open acknowledgement of the content from either candidate. The fact is each one of us has to vote on someone who best represents our personal views and opinions. This is truly the point of this years’ political process as in all election years. Many are disillusioned as I am from the current state we as Americans find ourselves in but to point blame at one party is narrow minded and damaging to all concerned. To say over and over again that the Presidents approval rating is low and shows discontent by the majority of Americans is misleading and disingenuous at best because the House and Senates approval ratings are just as dismal as the current administrations. This year we are truly voting for the better of two evils. May God help us all!!!!
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. KS2 Problema | 10.15.08
Great cut-n-pasted ‘cartoon’ today! (”Let’s buy NBC!”)
I actually did laugh out loud.