Obama Outspends Clinton Five-to-one In Ads
This story was written by Charles Brace, The Daily Cardinal
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., spent more on campaign advertising in Wisconsin than all other candidates combined, according to a Friday report.
The new report, conducted by the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project showed Obama spent $1.5 million in Wisconsin-five times as much as rival U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who spent roughly $300,000.
Obama also aired his ads a week before Clinton started advertising.
U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, each spent less than $200,000 in the state. UW-Madison political science professor Ken Goldstein, director of the study, said in a statement Clinton's ads likely did not focus on the correct ideas to win in Wisconsin.
"Going after Obama for not debating or not being liberal enough on health care reform simply did not resonate with Wisconsin voters," Goldstein said. Goldstein said Clinton needed to draw attention to issues of Obama's experience for the ads to be effective. The difference in the amount spent by Obama and Clinton, according to Goldstein, indicates Clinton's campaign is facing financial problems.
Both Democratic candidates focused on health care in their ads, while McCain emphasized national defense. Huckabee talked about abortion as the main issue in his ads, the report said.
The majority of ads were aired in swing areas like Green Bay or Milwaukee, with almost $1 million spent in Milwaukee. The report said no third party or interest groups aired ads before the primary.
© 2008 The Daily Cardinal via U-WIRE