From The Road
January 21, 2008 5:39 PM

Clinton Camp Says Obama Violated DNC Rules With TV Ad Buy

By
Fernando Suarez
Topics
Hillary Clinton
(CBS)
From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

Hillary Clinton campaign advisors are accusing Barack Obama's campaign of violating a Democratic National Committee pledge not to advertise in early primary states such as Florida who moved up their primary dates without the party's permission.

The Obama campaign purchased TV ad time on CNN and MSNBC, networks that obviously are telecast in Florida. According to the DNC rules, candidates are prohibited of campaigning in Florida, including buying ad time.

There is a semantic argument here, however, as the ad time isn't being specifically bought on Florida stations, it's being bought on national TV networks.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a written statement, "Both national cable networks told us it would be impossible for us to run advertising nationally that excluded only Florida. For that reason we consulted with the South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler who told us unequivocally she did not consider this to be in violation of pledge made to the early states."

Obama's campaign called South Carolina's Democratic Party since they were the ones that were directly affected by Florida's move to an earlier Jan. 29 primary.

The Clinton campaign says they "aren't ruling anything out," in terms of whether or not to abandon the pledge to compete in Florida.

Add a Comment
by hhkeller January 22, 2008 8:21 PM EST



Eloquence wont fix everthing that President idiot broke.


Reply to this comment
by jaykay221 January 22, 2008 11:55 AM EST
What isn''t a semantic argument when it comes to the Clintons? Let''s be honest - this is just a weak justification for them to break the rules and campaign in Florida. If they want to be equal with Obama on this - then they should also buy ad time from the same networks and run their own ads - but don''t try and pass it off in such a way to justify their devious behavior. Another set up from the Clinton''s - yawn!

Word of warning too - there seems to be a tone emerging in some of the comments left on articles that are about white people in the south hating blacks and never electing a black president - like nasty racial stuff.

Now I''m sure this kind of stuff does exist - but if we see a proliferation of this then I would highly suspect that it is another tactic from the Clinton campaign or supporters to shake the people''s belief in the ability for America to unify and to give the impression that Obama is not electable.

Because we can''t confirm who leaves such messages - we can''t put it past being a manipulation. Just be aware of that.
Reply to this comment
by Roger Canaday January 21, 2008 11:11 PM EST
Obama is not a typical DC politician; he is being dragged down into the mud by the Clintons, who take turns being attack dogs on Obama.
Reply to this comment
by jtorres138 January 21, 2008 9:38 PM EST
wow, obama is your typical DC politician! let''s "hope" he doesn''t become corrupt.
Reply to this comment
by cturner3rd January 21, 2008 9:38 PM EST
Clinton needs to spend a little less time badgering Obama over a few TV ads and more of her time attacking the actions of the brutal Bush regime. But I forgot. Clinton has signed off on all of Bush''s war mongering activities.
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