Obama's Prime-Time Appeal To Voters

Democrat's Half-Hour Infomercial Appears On Numerous Networks In Campaign's Final Stretch

(CBS/AP)  In a campaign ad aired at a cost of millions, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama promised a rescue plan for the middle class in tough times Wednesday night as he reached for victory in his 21-month quest for the presidency.

"I will not be a perfect president," Obama said in the commercial. "But I can promise you this - I will always tell you what I think and where I stand."

Aides described the unusual ad as a final summation of Obama's campaign. They put the total cost at roughly $4 million, enough to show it simultaneously on CBS, NBC and Fox. It also was running on BET, Univision, MSNBC and TV One.

In the spot, Obama asked voters to "choose hope over fear and unity over division" in Tuesday's election. Republican John McCain derided the event as a "gauzy, feel-good commercial" paid for with broken promises.

Across 30 minutes, the ad blended views of Obama speaking in a setting that resembled the Oval Office, at the Democratic National Convention and elsewhere. It also included scenes of Americans discussing their economic and health care troubles and testimonials to the Democratic presidential candidate by politicians and business executives.

“Ronald Reagan had ‘morning in America,’ but this 30-minute infomercial had the feel of ‘mid-morning in America,’ said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. “Obama’s message of change and hope is a powerful one and the primary reason he is clear front-runner in this election. As the examples his campaign chose to highlight in their made-for-Hollywood ad illustrated, however, the message runs up against a harsh reality. It will be up to voters to decide whether he can deliver on the promises."

The ad showed Obama's wife, Michelle, and his two daughters as well as past photos of his black father from Kenya and white mother from Kansas.

The program ended with a live transmission of Obama speaking at a campaign rally in Florida, one of several states where Obama is trying to capture traditionally Republican territory.

"we will win this election," he promised. "The time for change has come."

Without the money to match the commercial, McCain sniped at the man and the moment.

"He's got a few things he wants to sell you: He's offering government-run health care ... an energy plan guaranteed to work without drilling ... and an automatic wealth spreader that folds neatly and fits under any bed," McCain said during a campaign stop in Florida.

McCain also criticized Obama for having signed a pledge to accept federal funds for the fall campaign and then breaking his word.

By opting out of the public financing, Obama was free to raise unheard of millions for the final weeks of the race, and afford costly events such as the television commercial.

After months of campaigning, Obama offered no new proposals in the ad. Instead, he stressed his plan to offer tax cuts to the middle class, "restore the long-term health of our economy and our middle class."

Obama said the nation's neglected problems predate President Bush, but that the economic crisis that erupted a few weeks ago was a "final verdict on eight years of failed policies."

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Read Wyatt Andrews' Reality Check On Obama's Campaign Pledges

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Earlier, taping an appearance on the Daily Show for later in the evening, Obama said he had to reassure one of his daughters that the commercial would not pre-empt all programming.

"I was describing this to Michelle and my daughters, and Malia, who's 10, said, 'Hold up a second. Are you saying that my programs are going to be interrupted?' I said, 'No, we didn't buy on Disney.' So she was relieved."

[spinproof]

If McCain wins he will bring back the draft and go after Iran for Israel, the U.S. will be in endless wars for 100 more years like McCain promised. McCain does not have an economic Policy because McCain''s economic Policy is to give Americans jobs fighting in his wars and continuing the wars Bush started. McWar!

[ofbyfor3]

why are you so worried about obama being President, he hasn''''t proven to a U. S. citizen yet to the U. S. Supreme Court Law Suit filed in Pennsylvania, he went out to Hawaii to see his grandmother, right, he went out there to, buy, a birth certificate, so he could stay in the race for president. He''''s violating the U. S. Constitution by not providing a true copy of his birth certificate from the Vital Statics Office from Hawaii to prove his citizenship. We need to be worried that a foreigner wil be elected to run our country. USVoter1. Texas

Posted by USVoter1 at 08:30 PM : Oct 30, 2008

The Berg lawsuit was dismissed earlier this week and I highly doubt that the SCOTUS will take it on appeal because they are intelligent enough to understand that Obama has already been vetted by the appropriate agencies.

Secondly, your assertion that Obama has not provided a legitimate copy of his birth certificate has been shown to be false.

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/born_in_the_usa.html

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jun/27/obamas-birth-certificate-part-ii/

[abbotson]

Oh and to think if Palin were ever to be President. (Scenario JohnM cCain wins, is smitten by a stroke and she''s it!)S he''s barely articulate and she hasn''t a clue.I''ve heard better formulated conversations and opinions expressed in a red-neck bar!

[kimfrommn]

I wasnt sure that I was going to Vote for Obama at first for many reasons. One was because I wanted Hillary in there. But after listening to him over these past months and seeing his 30 minute Ad. He really impressed me. I sat and Cried at the end because I was so touched by it. He hit on all of the issues that are important to the US. We dont need more of the same. If McCain hadnt spent these last few months trying to smear Obama and talked more about what he would do for this country maybe he would have had my Vote. But how can you vote for someone who doesnt tell you what they stand for. We have enough Hate and Bitterness in this country. He not only lost my vote in these last few months he lost my respect. Come to think of it. He did showed me what he would do to this country the minute he introduced that ditzy Palin as his running Mate. He lost my vote right then. Not only does he feel the need to smear Obama, he should us what he really thought of Women Also when he brought her on stage. His Message was that Women don''t have any substance or Knowledge of what is going on today. He thought that as women we would be Shallow enough to vote for someone just because they are female. John McCain Blew it Big Time!!!

[achangenow]

Stop the smear and fear tactics. They''re getting old-just like McSame. Elect McSame if you want the same failed domestic and foreign Bush policies.
The middle class is the backbone of this country and its economy. Under McCain the county could turn into a 3rd world nation where the super rich call all the shots and the rest of us are left dirt poor. That''s not the America we want to envision.
Giving tax breaks to the wealthy in hopes it''ll TRICKle down has not and will never work because of excessive human greed. And giving tax breaks to corporations that outsource jobs to foreign countries is so absolutely insane!! The change is coming Nov. 4. Finally.

[youandme22]

mytoosense You stated "Second of all...it is no longer referred to as Politically Correct, it is now referred to as Correct Politically. give me a break..."...

Sorry.. no breaks...
Become inform and use correct verbiage...
Political correctness is a term applied to language, ideas, policies, or behavior seen as seeking to minimize offense to gender, racial, cultural, disabled, aged or other identity groups."

Is your point to offend anyone? I doubt it...
You are just trying to state an opinion..

[youandme22]

Still have not answer my question... Which programs?

There have been many "Law suits" that were brought about for children with disabilities. (Most of them happened in California).

[vetkar2]

The middle class is pretty important to the businesses in this country. No matter how much the businesses have to sell if we don''t have jobs and money, we can''t buy. Putting a plan in place to help the middle class first is the way to go. We have tried giving the tax break to big business and that didn''t work. They took the tax break and more the jobs overseas. Now,we don''t have enough jobs in this country. Obama tax plan is a good one. Up the taxes on businesses that make over $250,000, and give tax breaks to businesses for bringing jobs back to this country. Or we can go McCain''s way and just give them tax breaks and let them take the jobs overseas. There has to be a stopping point. We as a nation can''t afford to keep sending our jobs away.

We need to give Obama a chance to show us what he can do.

[hypnotoad72]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj-vIOMtVY0

Or go to youtube and search "endangered species - whirlpool"

And people should lay off Ms Palin. She has valid points, and peer pressure/media has weight too. Especially when there''s far more of it and when people who wait to pull down their zipper are deemed "unevolved" or other insults.

[usvoter1]

why are you so worried about obama being President, he hasn''t proven to a U. S. citizen yet to the U. S. Supreme Court Law Suit filed in Pennsylvania, he went out to Hawaii to see his grandmother, right, he went out there to, buy, a birth certificate, so he could stay in the race for president. He''s violating the U. S. Constitution by not providing a true copy of his birth certificate from the Vital Statics Office from Hawaii to prove his citizenship. We need to be worried that a foreigner wil be elected to run our country. USVoter1. Texas