Lopsided ad wars (Ouch!)

Politico ^ | 10/10/08 | Ben Smith

[pissant]

Obama is on pace to spend more on TV in the final 25 days of this election than John McCain's entire $85 million matching-fund check. For those keeping score at home, Obama has aired more than 25,000 commercials in the past four days alone.

McCain is in a shouting match against a man with a bull horn. Whatever McCain does in the final 25 days, it will not be enough to break through the noise unless his campaign finds a message that connects with voters. Timing is everything in politics, and McCain's campaign may have waited too long to play the Ayers, Rezko and Wright cards. These types of attacks do not work while voters are sweating the ups and downs of the economy and stock market.

So now what? If you are McCain? You must draw down ad buys in states you cannot win and focus on the states you must. Secondly, you need to find a message that connects with voters and their economic anxiety. You need a persuasive argument about how Obama would be worse for the already fragile economy. Anything less will not get the job done.

[pissant]

He's going to spend more than 85 mil in the next 3 weeks? McCain is going to have to go nuclear on the commie.

[PeterFinn]

Obama’s worried that the fake push poll numbers and the ACORN vote fraud won’t be enough to win the election for him.

[antceecee]

Ben Smith is practically peeing his pants - he’s so in the tank for a BO win.

[Brookhaven]

If it makes you feel any better, the book “Freakonomics” did a study on how spending affected who won campaigns and found it had a minimal affect.

The message is more important than the money.

[housedeep]

no no politico

the ayers acorn ads are going to work...it is the message

they are working as we speak, or teh Obama camp wouldnt be so upset.

[Frantzie]

We have the NRA on our side. Since 1980 when they endorse a Repub for President - they win.

[Chet 99]

I’ve said before - the fact that McCain is being outspent 3 to 1 right now should be reassuring. It means despite all of Obama’s advantages with the economic news, the in the tank media, bad McCain campaign, and campaign spending, he still can’t put this away.

[D-fendr]

If money determined, Ross Perot would be president.

There is a long history of candidates outspent highly who won handily.

[MNlurker]

Quality over quantity...you’d think everyone would have learned that by now.

[jveritas]

I was surprised today when I read on Drudge that the 30 minutes Obama TV spot on CBS and NBC is less a million dollars. I thought that it would have cost much more than that.

[jveritas]

less = less than

[ExTexasRedhead]

OHitler is using illegal funds and funds from our enemies in the Middle East.

[Shannon]

Very true. O can spend all the money he wants; he's still a candidate with no quality.
All the money in the world can't change that.

[Gaffer]

As far as I'm concerned, the McCain Campaign should bank their shot on a well-executed friendly interview/showcase of Sarah Palin and her American family ala the Bloodworth-Thomason piece that got Bill and Hillary elected in 1992. Spend a buttload on it and get the best to script, direct and produce it. Spend a buttload on airing at primetime. Sue the everloving sh!t out of TV markets that won't air it, and podcast it on the internet wherever it can be done.

At the end of the piece, all he's got to do is come on with his wife and rest of the family (via satellite from overseas, if needed) to say..."Fix this country? Obama won't do it no matter what he promises - so far he's only used his abilities to advance his own interests. I will do it - with your help"

[AmericaUnited]

You are forgetting the RNC money!

[AmericaUnited]

In 2004, $50 million of Soros and MoveOn money could not defeat $500,000 of Swift Boat Truth!

[Question_Assumptions]

Obama spends half a billion dollars on this election in an environment that's widely seen as anti-Republican and a great opportunity for Democrats and the best he can do is less than a 10 point lead?

[Evil Slayer]

Not only the NRA but the Hillary women that BO dumped on. Also figure the Palin factor that will finally bring out the Conservative voters to the polling booth this time. We lost Congress because of the conservative sit out in 2006. Palin will bring them back on board this time.

Why couldn't Cindy McCain use some of her $$$$$ to help pull ahead of BO. I don't think there is anything that says the candidate's wife can't contribute any amount they want.

[annieokie]

Why can't McCain do a short 5 to 10 min. commercial right after Obama's 30 min. mini series.

Donations will be needed, but the McCains have the money themselves.

[PhiKapMom]

$200,000M of them to be exact. FEC cannot get the Bush DOJ to act on the fraudulent donations either. Wonder why?