Barack Obama is outspending John McCain at nearly a three-to-one clip on television time in the final weeks of the presidential election, according to ad buy information obtained by The Fix, a financial edge that is almost certainly contributing to the momentum for the Illinois senator in key battleground states.
From Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, Obama spent more than $20 million on television ads in 17 states including more than $3 million in Pennsylvania and more than $2 million each in Florida, Michigan and Ohio. McCain in that same time frame spent just $7.2 million in 15 states. Even when the Republican National Committee's independent expenditure spending in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin is factored in (a total of $5.3 million), Obama still outspent the combined GOP forces by roughly $8 million in the last week alone. (See full distribution after the jump.)
The spending edge enjoyed by Obama has been used almost exclusively to hammer McCain as both a clone of the current president and someone who is out of touch on key domestic issues -- most notably the economy. The assertion of Obama's spending edge has coincided with the collapse of the financial industry and a refocusing by voters on the economy to turn the election from a toss up to one in which the Democratic candidate has moved into a discernible lead.
While the struggles of McCain and his party over the Wall Street bailout bill that passed Congress last week after much sturm und drang have been well documented, the practical political impact of Obama's decision to forego public financing for the general election and McCain's choice to accept the $84 million in public funds has not been as fully explored.
Obama's fundraising machine has continued to churn in recent months -- bringing in $67.5 million in August alone and ending that month with more than $77 million on hand. (Reports for September are not due at the Federal Election Commission until Oct. 20.)
Obama's ad spending strategy has been based on the idea of stretching McCain to the limit in a series of non-traditional battlegrounds (Indiana, North Carolina, Colorado, Virginia), knowing that such an approach would force the cash-poorer Republican's hand at some point.
That decision paid off last week when McCain pulled down his television ads in Michigan, a move due in large part to the prohibitive cost of continuing to run commercials in the Wolverine State. A look at advertising in the last week in Michigan showed Obama dropping nearly $2.2 million as compared to $642,000 for McCain and just over $1 million by the RNC -- a difference of nearly $600,000 in favor of the Illinois senator.
A detailed look at campaign spending on ads over the last week shows clearly how Obama is using his financial edge over McCain. In 13 of the 15 states where both candidates were on television, Obama outspent McCain -- in some states, drastically.
In Florida, where recent polling suggests an Obama surge, the Illinois senator disbursed more than $2.8 million for television ads in the last week while McCain spent $623,000 -- a massive $2.17 million spending gap.
In North Carolina, Obama dropped approximately $1.5 million on television commercials last week while McCain spent only $137,000. Such a wide spending disparity explains why a series of polls has shown Obama trending upward in the Tarheel State of late.
Even in Pennsylvania, the state where McCain is now focusing much of his time and energy in the final month of the campaign, Obama's spending advantage is massive. Obama disbursed a little more than $3 million in the Keystone State last month as compared to $1.2 million in ad spending by McCain and another $807,000 by the RNC. It adds up to a million-dollar edge for Obama on television -- meaning that he outspending Republican by roughly 33 percent in Pennsylvania.
In Virginia, a state that has gone Republican in every presidential election since 1964, Obama's pronounced spending advantage is also being felt. Obama spent $1.6 million on ads in the Commonwealth last week while the combined forces of McCain and the RNC spent $909,000 -- giving Obama a $700,000 spending lead.
Only in Minnesota and Iowa did McCain have a spending edge on television over Obama in the last week.
In Minnesota, the McCain spent $377,000 on television, far more than the $196,000 Obama spent during the same period. Republicans saw a significant uptick in their numbers in Minnesota following the national party convention in August although most recent surveys show Obama reclaiming a statistically significant lead. History is also against McCain in the state as no Republican presidential nominee has carried Minnesota since 1972.
In Iowa, McCain spent $297,000 on television as compared to $224,000 for Obama. That's rough parity in a state where polling shows Obama with a comfortable lead. McCain has spent considerable time, attention and money in Iowa, however, a strategy that has baffled many within the Obama campaign. Iowa went for then Vice President Al Gore in 2000 by 4,000 votes in 2000 but George W. Bush carried it by 10,000 votes four years later.
Spending by the RNC's independent expenditure arm has kept McCain within shouting distance of Obama in several crucial states including Ohio and Wisconsin.
In Ohio, Obama spent $2.86 million on television last week while the combination of McCain ($1.1 million) and the RNC ($1.66 million) gave Democrats just a $100,000 edge. The same was true in Wisconsin where Obama disbursed $1.24 million, compared to $1.03 million for McCain and the RNC.
Is Obama's spending edge conclusive when it comes to determining the outcome on Nov. 4? No. External events can -- and always seem to -- intrude on even the best laid of political plans and strategies. But, Obama's fundraising prowess has provided him a major leg up in the final month of the campaign that, when combined with the detrimental effects the focus on the economy has had on McCain, make it an uphill climb to victory for the Arizona senator.
18 comments:
I believe that Obama’s spending is conclusive. We have seen throughout history that the Presidential candidates did all that they could do win the Presidency. With television ads (recently), speeches, and debates, the Presidential candidates have to do it all to win it all. No matter the amount of money that is used, Obama is doing the right thing. He is getting himself known to the public and showing why he should be elected. With this spending, Obama is promoting himself to the people of the United States, during a time of economic crises.
Obama is promoting his views on the issues that are causing controversy. With the television ads that he has published, he will be able to further himself in the campaign. The more a person is known, the higher their chances of winning are. Obama is justified by the amount of money that he uses. Without these campaign highlights, Obama will not be anywhere. Senator McCain should be doing the same, promoting his views, and keeping up with Obama and his fame. Just like Mr. Perry put, “Obama's fund raising prowess has provided him a major leg up in the final month of the campaign that, when combined with the detrimental effects the focus on the economy has had on McCain, make it an uphill climb to victory for the Arizona senator”.
Even though commercials and advertisement are big factors during a campaign, an educated person would take into consideration all the factors in order to make an informed decision. The average person, however, is easily swayed by television. Obama's spending offers high an edge over McCain means that more people are endorsing Obama over McCain financially. Obama's campaign commercials will be more widely available to the masses in those states where his spending outweighs McCain's spending. While Obama's spending edge does not necessarily conclusive when it comes down to November 4, it does play a big role in changing the public opinion and recent polls show Obama surging to a big lead.
"McCain surrogate raises Obama's past drug use"
A prominent surrogate for John McCain on Thursday raised Barack Obama's admitted cocaine use as a teenager and said the Illinois senator should speak candidly about it to the American people.
Speaking to Dennis Miller, a comedian and conservative radio talk show host, former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating said Obama should be more forthright about his background and what he called his "very extreme" record.
"He ought to admit, ‘You know, I've got to be honest with you. I was a guy of the street. I was way to the left. I used cocaine. I voted liberally, but I'm back at the center,'" Keating, a co-chair of McCain’s campaign, said Obama should tell voters. "I mean, I understand the big picture of America. But he hasn't done that."
The fact that Obama is not using public funds, rather private funds collected through his own fund raising campaign gives him the right to spend the money donated to him however he wishes. His supporters gave him their money to see him become elected president, and if this involves him having to spend that money to get his views on television for voters to see, then so be it. Such drastic numbers between the two characters may seem to suggest that Obama is desperate but the truth is actually quite the opposite. Obama is riding a great wave right now, his campaign is doing better than ever due to the recent economic events. Far from suggesting that Obama is taking advantage of this troubling time for Americans; he is merely suggesting solutions with which the American people seem to favor over his opponent's. Now is the time for Obama to act in order to clinch the election, for these next few weeks Obama must constantly getting his ideas out to the public, make sure that his campaign is on the minds of the people when November 4th rolls around.
It seems to me that Obama is getting desperate. McCain isn't frivolously spending massive sums of money trying to promote his campaign. What does all of that money go to anyway? Menial trinkets and signs that will hit dumpsters and burn pits nation wide? I respect McCain for focusing more on the actual issues rather than investing in superficial campaigning.
I think that obama is doing a good thing making himself known and his campaing is aquiring money he has the ability to do that. But i also think that you need to look at everything that goes on like hte money spending habits of the campaign. I think Mccaine could stand to put a little more about his plans and ect out there so people can compare campainge.
All the spending that Obama is spending is conclusive. The money he is using is due to his and his campaigns hard work, therefore they have every right to spend all of that money on advertising. The advertising is exposing Obama to everyday people through his commercials, and getting his views across to Americans in the most crucial time of the election. The Obama campaign is using a great strategy on building up there campaign and advertising in the last month. While McCain has dried out of funds, so America is hearing more from Obama and less from McCain. I believe this will prove to be greatly beneficial to Obama on Election Day.
McCain's camp is bad at allocating funds for promotional efforts, ergo Obama must belong to the "democratic elite", right? Of course...
Crazy raving socialist swine! He has spending edges, therefore he must be poorly equipped to run the country. I mean, that's the obvious conclusion. Surely this just demonstrates how foolish he is for spending money carelessly.
Who would want to improve public relations?
I'm glad John McCain is above all this ridiculous nonsense.
Oh, also... my friends.
Talking about spending money when our economy is the way it is right now makes me sick. I think that America is just voting for the lesser of two evils. I am tired of this election. Someone win, save the polar bears, keep us from having another depression and i will personally be happy.
I think Obama is making the right decision in his massive spending election wise and strategy wise. He is trying to make a late push and also to trying and give voters a good impression of him before the election. After all, we do tend to forget things more often as time goes by and Obama is taking advantage of his funds and putting McCain into a thrifty state of mind. I do believe that the increase of commercials is helping Obama to develop his cause and granting the American people a greater understanding of his goals and attribution toward presidency. McCain needs to counter this tactic if he plans on winning this election.
With the mudslinging between the 2 candidates, the negativity definitely hurts McCain way more than it does Obama.
According to Newsweek, 100% of Mccain's ads are negative. 34% of Obama's ads are also negative. Political elites claim that negative ads undermine the electoral process, failing to tell voters why they should support the ad's sponsor.
With Obama's spending edge combined with his mass production of ads (34% which are negative vs. Mccain's 100%, again, also negative), I believe a conclusive victory could result in Obama's favor.
i believe that Obama's spending isn't conclusive, but it will have a major effect on the outcome of the election. A single factor will not make a nominee's campaign. Obama is smart by taking advantage of every penny that his campaign possesses. What's the harm? If he becomes president, every cent will have been well spent.
Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin denied Saturday that she had abused her power as Alaska's governor, a conclusion reached by a state investigator in a report released the day before.
"If you read the report, you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about replacing a cabinet member," Palin said as boarded her campaign bus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "You got to read the report."
Palin violated state ethics law by trying to get her former brother-in-law fired from the state police, a state investigator's report for the bipartisan Legislative Council concluded Friday.
"Gov. Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda," the report states
By:Michael Melendez:Wow ummmm i'm not really sure what to belive it's sort of difficult because Palin has like a good background and at the same time, sort of a bad one, so its hard to know who is right and who is wrong?
For the most part, money is the driving force in elections. It powers campaings and proves to the voters how much they really want to win. But the comparison of who has more money should not be discussed. Both candidates should be on equal ground in terms of money in campaigns. If voters really base their vote on campaign ads, slogans, and banners what kind of world do we live in?
I think it's a bit ironic that he is saying so much about spending less than McCain, yet...he is spending more than him.
I think Obama's spending depends on the perspective you're looking at if from. Everyone who is an Obama supporter will try to to justify his spendings; everyone who dislikes him will criticize it. People who criticize it should take into consideration that the money he is spending is donated to him for his presidency.
McCain to me seems to use his money more wisely than obama. he spends it on things that mateer unlike multi million dollar ad campaigns. thats a waste of money and to be so cockey about how his ideas are going to bring new change. what is he going to change. universal health care doesn't work try getting a prescription in canada, that'll take you six months.
My opinion is that Obama is doing great with his campaign.
Obama is taking advantage of things like this by spending higher than what McCain is which is a great. He's showing more that he has the ability to do all of this. McCain on the other hand should be doing the same and keeping up with obama and obviously he's not doing any of this. Obama is getting somewhere!
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