33.5M Watched Obama's Infomercial

Democrat's Prime-Time Final Argument Beats Regular Programming On Three Networks

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama's infomercial on Wednesday night was watched by 33.5 million people on seven channels, according to Nielsen ratings.

The ad was seen on CBS, NBC, Fox, Univision, MSNBC, BET and TV One.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, that beats the programming that's usually in the timeslot on the three networks - CBS, NBC and Fox - that's averaged 23.1 million combined viewers since the start of the season.

In the 30-minute primetime campaign ad, Obama promised a rescue plan for the middle class in tough times 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 the broadcasts networks and cable channels.

As for reaction, CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield said he doubts the ad changed many minds, but the goal of it was just to increase the "comfort level between Obama and voters."

"The spin doctors who put together this infomercial followed their own version of the Hippocratic Oath: 'first, do no harm.' It was an exercise in reassurance, from the reassuring images -- amber waves of grain, anyone -- to the soothing music, to Obama’s low-pitched voice, to the stories of his childhood and his family, to his narrations of the lives of typical Americans," Greenfield said. "This was all one message: 'I may have an odd name, come from a big city, and I’m obviously of a different color than other presidents -- but I share common roots, common values, and I understand what you are going through, and what you need from your government.'"

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."

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

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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."

[mitch5511]

McCain''s sniping is showing how jealous he is of Obama. Obama got my vote!

[Confidential416]

I watched and was extremely impressed. Not one negative word out of Obama about his opponent. The man has class. With regard to the money - I think Obama was right to change his mind about financing. He has seen the way republicans fight dirty and this way he could afford to get his voice heard above the negative noise. In the big picture, 3 million dollars of raised money - not tax money to close his campaign was a capatalistic idea!
In the bush/mcsame world - 3 million buys 10 more minutes in Iraq.

[krotec54]

Boring!
What a waste of time and money.
And he calls on his advisors to help him understand the situation and to tell him what he needs to say to make him look like he can lead this country.
What a fake!

[mumu11]

Well, the choice is easy, isn''t it? A smart, young, healthy president willing to surround himself with the best and brightest of both parties to get the country out of this recession, or an old man running on his past glory, and without an idea to call his own. It isn''t only the lack of money which prevented McCain from running such an add, it is the fact that, let''s face it, no one could have stomached 1/2 an hour of slanderous drivel without a single positive word.

[robert2237]

I watch a little of it but had to stop because I was laughting so hard. I got to give him credit he has no problem standing up in front of a bunch of people and spitting out lies. Lets see after he parts the water he is going to cure all the ailments of the world then he is going to take my taxes and give it to those who don''t want to work cause it is easier to get a hand out. He may win on the backs of these people who will vote for ever who is going to give them the most. Well what a way to get elected. Lot of respect will be lost for the office of President Of the US if he is elected. Guess we will have to clean it out in 4 years and get someone in that will build the respect back.

[hissteps4u]

McCain makes me sick to my stomack and I am a republican who voted for Obama.

mcCain''s Tactics are so bad and so ill thought it is no wonder he has caused the greatiest failure of the republican party in several centuries of politics.

I always Vote my conscious and McCain/Palin is wrong for America and wrong for the world in general and would bring down the uS in way to many ways.

May Mccain go into obscurity quietly. Palin wont be able to run she is the flavor of the month for Hocky Moms and while she may be a Governor she is not fit for the VP or the Presidential Job either she is not worthy and does not posess the kind of knowledge and circumspect vision which would allow the uSA to prosper.

Oh she is an interesting person no doubt about it but she is not capable to perform the Job...

[newbie43]

I helped to pay for the commercial. So did my husband and a bunch of other people I know. And a lot of other Americans.
Posted by syllabujones

Me, too. And my husband, my son & his wife, and many of our neighbors. All people who would rather watch a ''gauzy feel-good commercial'' than sarcastic jabs from McCain and Palin and their surrogates and their erratic attacks. People who will vote for hope and against fear.

[syllabujones]

libluv well, I helped to pay for the commercial. So did my husband and a bunch of other people I know. And a lot of other Americans.

[syllabujones]

PCreversed

Of course, I have no beef with you. All these personal attacks people make online are shameful. Let''s all start to pretend we''re face-to-face, and maybe we''ll find the grace to be polite.

They''ve looked pretty buddy-buddy to me. I''ve been following McCain pretty closely since 2000 and was surprised to see how quickly he changed his views and fell into the Bush administration fold.

[syllabujones]

PCreversed:

1. McCain WAS a critic of Bush during the 2000 primaries but then as soon as Bush was elected, McCain embraced him (literally and figuratively) and has since voted with Bush 90% of the time.

2. You missed raf''s point which was that good leaders DON''T need to be older and experienced, but do need to make good decisions and have good judgement.

[mcfinished]

USA-No1 at 11:07 PM : Oct 30, 2008 wrote:

"Barrack reminds me of that lieutenant."

And GW Bush WAS that lieutenant.

And I bet you voted for that moron.

As for McCain, he may have served in the Vietnam war, but that certainly doesn''t give him any entitlement to becoming the President.

Even during this election campaign, McCain has shown himself to be unworthy of the Presidency.

My vote will go to the person I believe will do the best job - and that is NOT McCain.

[usvoter1]

Part 2, Putting thing into purspective.

Whether he''d qualify for a security clearance if he were just an "average Joe;" what passport he used to travel to Pakistan in 1981; who his ex-girlfriends are; whether he was or still is an Indonesian citizen; why his Kenyan grandmother insists he was born there; whether he was ever legally named Barry Soetoro or anything else besides Barack Hussein Obama; Why he needed the help of a crook to purchase his family home; where he was on Nov. 6 and 7, 1999; what the long-version of his birth certificate says; why he helped an anti-American, pro-Islamic candidate for Kenyan President against US interests; why he listened to Rev. Wright''s sermons for 20 years; how many times he took his kids to a Rev. Wright sermon; what he actually did as chair of the Annenberg Challen ge; the depth of his relationship with ACORN.

But, really, I am SO relieved that the Mainstream Media has done its job vetting Joe The Plumber, who is NOT running for public office, but who had the AUDACITY to challenge Barack Hussein Obama, who wants my vote for President of the United States of America.''

[targaray-2009]

- DIVIDED WE FAIL - VOTE FOR CHANGE - 2008

[usvoter1]

Puttng things in perspective. Part 1.

A Guy named Joe, who happens to be a plumber with ambitions for a bigger business, questioned and challenged a Guy named Barack, who happens to be running for President of the US/Leader of the Free World.

Within 24 hours the Media has given us more information about Joe''s life than they''ve given us about Barack''s life in the past 18 months.

Thanks to a diligent press corps, we now know about Joe''s professional licensing status, his income tax situation, his employment history, his domestic squabbles, his voting record, everything associated with his personal identity; his education.. It''s probably been reported somewhere whether he wears boxers or briefs.

Thanks to a lazy press corps.We still don''t know what grades Obama made in college; how he got into Harvard; when he met Bill "the bomber" Ayers; when he stopped doing illegal drugs; his medical history; whether he still smokes cigarettes; the extent of his affiliation with socialist/communist organizations; why he''s no longer a licensed attorney; whether he lied on his Bar application;

[tcoleman12]

Breaks for the "Middle Class"? Where the hell is that? It keeps getting redefined every time Obama & Biden speak; from $250 to $200 to $150...

Everyone is going to get hammered...

[bigloudbike]

Like I just said...."Republican Whiners..LOL!"

[bigloudbike]

Bunch of Republican whiners......sore loosers! Can''t even win without cheating. Gee, they''re stealing Obama signs here.

[bigloudbike]

GO OBAMA!!!!!!! PREZ. OBAMA, That Is.

[stloubill]

stloubill...my parents have never been prouder. Sorry yours can''''t feel the same.
Posted by jubrown3

Mine know that I''m honest while you come on here and spew hate filled lies.

[jubrown3]

stloubill...my parents have never been prouder. Sorry yours can''t feel the same.