More Than $50 Million Spent On Campaign Ads In Two Months
The Wisconsin Advertising Project is out with a report today (PDF) noting that spending on advertising in the first two months of the general election campaign exceeds $50 million.
"Over the comparable time period four years ago, Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain are airing more TV advertisements in more media markets than their counterparts did during the 2004 election campaign," they note. "From the end of the primary season (June 3rd) through July 26th, the two presidential candidates have aired over 100,000 ads on broadcast television, while only 77,000 ads were aired during the same time period in 2004. The McCain campaign has spent just over $21 million on television advertising since June 3rd, while Senator Obama has spent over $27 million."
Some other important notes: Ads from interest groups are down from four years ago. The relatively flush Republican National Committee has aired 6,005 ads as of July 26th, spending $3.6 million, while the Democratic National Committee has aired none.
McCain has run a higher percentage of negative ads – about a third of his ads have been negative, compared to about 1 in 10 for Obama. (Every RNC spot has been negative.) And while McCain is focusing on traditional battleground states like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Obama is spending on advertising in traditionally-Republican states like Alaska, Georgia, Indiana and North Carolina.
"To date, Senator Obama is airing ads in 37 markets where McCain has not aired a single ad, while McCain is advertising in only two markets where Obama is not," the Wisconsin Advertising Project notes.
© 2008 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. "Over the comparable time period four years ago, Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain are airing more TV advertisements in more media markets than their counterparts did during the 2004 election campaign," they note. "From the end of the primary season (June 3rd) through July 26th, the two presidential candidates have aired over 100,000 ads on broadcast television, while only 77,000 ads were aired during the same time period in 2004. The McCain campaign has spent just over $21 million on television advertising since June 3rd, while Senator Obama has spent over $27 million."
Some other important notes: Ads from interest groups are down from four years ago. The relatively flush Republican National Committee has aired 6,005 ads as of July 26th, spending $3.6 million, while the Democratic National Committee has aired none.
McCain has run a higher percentage of negative ads – about a third of his ads have been negative, compared to about 1 in 10 for Obama. (Every RNC spot has been negative.) And while McCain is focusing on traditional battleground states like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, Obama is spending on advertising in traditionally-Republican states like Alaska, Georgia, Indiana and North Carolina.
"To date, Senator Obama is airing ads in 37 markets where McCain has not aired a single ad, while McCain is advertising in only two markets where Obama is not," the Wisconsin Advertising Project notes.
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McCain acts as if someone else from someplace else is responsible for the detriment of the last 8-12 years of Conservatism.