By the way, I really, really want that Georgia Senate seat. I really want that Mississippi Senate seat. I really want that Kentucky Senate seat.
Col. Trautman: "You did everything to make this private war happen. You've done enough damage. This mission is over, McCainbo. Do you understand me? This mission is over! Look at them out there! Look at them! If you won't end this now, they will kill you. Is that what you want? It's over Johnny. It's over!"
More Obama news... Pressing hard in IN... Webb for Obama... Looks like Obama has run the Repubs out of Wisconsin...
That's why 5, 10, 15 dollars or more matter. We are seeing him compete in states he wouldn't have been able to do without the support of the American people. https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/standardmagnet?source=mainnav_bt_nsu_dg
Here you go guys RNC out of Wisconsin, Maine; focuses on red states WASHINGTON - The Republican National Committee is halting presidential ads in Wisconsin and Maine, turning its attention primarily to usually Republican states where GOP nominee John McCain shows signs of faltering. ADVERTISEMENT The party's independent ad operation is doubling its budget to about $10 million and focusing on crucial states such as Colorado, Missouri, Indiana and Virginia where Democrat Barack Obama has established a foothold, according a Republican strategist familiar with presidential ad placements. Florida and North Carolina have also been in the RNC ad mix, but Pennsylvania is the only Democratic leaning swing state apparently left in the party's ad campaign. The shift in advertising resources suggests that the RNC has decided to focus on defending reliably Republican-voting states against Obama's onslaught of advertising. Flush with money, Obama is outspending the joint efforts of the Republican Party and the McCain campaign by more than 2-1. While a pullout from Wisconsin is a significant strategic move, it does not represent a full GOP retreat from the state. McCain's campaign has notified Wisconsin stations that it planned to continue to buy air time through Oct. 26. Like McCain, the RNC's independent ad operation has targeted Obama with critical ads. The Republican Party has been helping McCain through various means. It had been spending more than $5 million a week on ads independently of the campaign. It also has teamed up with the campaign to run combined ads whose costs are split by the campaign and the RNC in certain situations allowed by federal election law. Only the independent ads will be affected by Wednesday's decision to shift ads. Wisconsin has been a seriously contested state in seven of the last eight presidential elections. Democrats won narrowly in six of them. Al Gore and John Kerry barely edged out George Bush in the 2000 and the 2004 elections. A poll in Wisconsin by Quinnipiac University of New York for The Wall Street Journal and the Web site of The Washington Post, taken after last week's presidential debate, had Obama at 54 percent and McCain at 37 percent. "Like most campaigns, we don't talk strategy and tactics," said McCain Wisconsin spokeswoman Sarah Lenti. "That said we are extremely excited by our chances in Wisconsin and will continue to run ads, period. We are up and running." Two weeks ago, McCain halted his spending in Michigan after polls there showed Obama with a growing lead. The RNC had record fundraising in September, collecting more than $66 million. McCain, meanwhile, is largely limited to the $84 million he agreed to accept in public financing for September and October. Obama, however, bypassed public financing and has continued to raise money during the campaign. His extraordinary spending suggests his fundraising is at record levels. His campaign has not revealed its September fundraising but must file financial reports with the federal Election Commission by Monday night. In a sign of his vast resources, Obama has purchased millions of dollars in national network time, airing spots during the Major League Baseball playoffs and during Sunday NFL games. On Sunday, he spent more than $5 million on ads, about half of that on national network spots, according to Evan Tracy, head of TNS Media Intelligence/Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks political advertising. According to Tracey's data and ad information from ad buyers, Obama spent about $32 million during the week ending last Sunday, McCain spent about $9 million and the RNC spent about $5 million. Obama tested but abandoned advertising efforts in Alaska, Georgia and North Dakota. But he has made inroads in the traditional Republican strongholds Indiana, North Carolina and Virginia. The two campaigns also are fighting for supremacy in Colorado, Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico — all of which Bush won in 2004. They are also battling in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, states that John Kerry won. ___ Associated Press Writer Scott Bauer in Wisconsin contributed to this report. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081015/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_ads_1;_ylt=AnuC.7EQuMPuO3KnNta2iarCw5R4
Wow - this stuns me. I'm surprised anyone would move a World Series game for a political ad. If I'm McCain, I invest $3 million to program my own half-hour ad. That's a far better use of funds than anything else. I'm amazed it's that cheap, frankly, to buy 30 minutes of primetime. That's the cost of a 30-second Superbowl commercial.
He's got to use it to try and defend particular states and give as much cover to down ballot Repubs as possible. He can't afford to go national. Turn out the lights. Not even a major terrorist attack would save McCain now. Obama is too cool and oozing competence. He has too many strong advantages in enthusiasm, ground game, and advertising. McCain is a reminder of everything people have come to detest about conservatism and the neo-cons and people hate the current administration. We're only waiting on the size of the mandate.
No way. Not only would it be a giant waste of money, it would make McCain look like a desperate follower instead of a leader. The GOP should start plunging it's money into individual states McCain might win and into tight senate races. The presidency is a lost cause. I also think national ad buys like this are also (probably) a waste of money for Obama. The difference is he won't miss $3 million even if the ad doesn't do much.
Depends on what he does with it... if it's another campaign commercial, I agree. If it's an honest talk about the problems we face and how he'll govern, I think it will pay tremendous dividends.
When you have a small lead with two minutes to go, you don't coast, you press. When you are up by two points in a boxing match you don't run around the ring you stand in, make smart punches, deflect the hay-makers, keep the pressure on. Stay with the strategy that has gotten you this far and when you see weakness, step on their throat, with a smile on your face.
Has anyone heard anything about early voting trends? I know there are at least 18 states that have started early voting.
Turnout in GA is extremely high and Blacks are voting in huge numbers, coming in at about 37% of the total votes. If the polls close with Blacks making up more than 30% of all votes, that is a good sign of Dem success. Current tallies here: http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/earlyvotingstats08.htm From 538: More... In Indiana, anecdotal reports have Obama running a massive ground game getting college kids to do early voting, even setting up transportation to other voting places when the lines at the schools get too long.
Nice! High energy, good turnout so far.... I like it! But it looks like Ayers isn't going away.... Massive Republican Robocalls are being reported from across the country tying Obama to Ayers. Guess Mccain does care about that "washed up terrorist"
Since I see Obama spending money like never before, is it fair to assume he has more cash than any Dem nominee before him? I guess past Dem nominees didn't have the cash to give it a shot in typical Rep states? I mean, if you just have money to blow I don't see why ya wouldn't try. How the hell did Obama raise so much $$$?
