Obama campaign running TV ads in fewer states

[alp227]

T.W. Farnam, Washington Post, 6/4/12

President Obama’s reelection campaign, facing an onslaught of attack ads from well-funded conservative interest groups, is concentrating its television advertising in fewer states than in his 2008 presidential bid, a review of campaign spending shows.

Unlike in his first campaign, when Obama held a significant financial advantage over Republican John McCain, his resources in the current contest are more evenly matched with those of Mitt Romney, the GOP candidate. That is in large part because of the spending by independent interest groups, which favor Republicans.

Obama’s campaign has placed ads in fewer than 60 media markets nationwide, skipping some expensive areas such as Philadelphia and Washington, compared with 80 in the early weeks of the 2008 general-election campaign. In 2008, Obama began running ads against McCain in late June.

The president’s campaign has put an increased focus on Ohio, which has become the most competitive big prize in the race. Four of the most saturated media markets for presidential advertising are in Ohio, and Obama’s campaign has spent more on broadcast advertising there than in Florida, another critical swing state with about twice the population.

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-campaign-running-tv-ads-in-fewer-states/2012/06/04/gJQA9cAaEV_singlePage.html

[Art_from_Ark]

1. "...independent interest groups, which favor Republicans"

If they favor Democrats, they're derisively labelled "special interest groups".

[bigdarryl]

2. Hate to say it that's not a good sign

Especially after what went down in Wisconsin

[Exultant Democracy]

5. The already failed Rahm strategy rather then a 50 state push, way to learn from 2010.

[Happydayz]

3. What happened to all that campaign money from 2008?

Over 700 million dollars was raised, in addition to all the money raised over the 3 1/2 years he's been in office. Obama, needs to spend money in every swing state, not just OH. He's actually doing better in FL than OH right now. I'd take FL over OH any day with 29 electoral votes. Something is off about this article, it makes it seem like the dems are broke and running on empty.

[GoCubsGo]

8. The Koch Brothers alone are giving $400 million to the GOP.

They are worth $40 billion, and they can kick in even more if they feel like it. That $400 million is chump change to them, and there are many others just like them, who will be donating shitpiles of money to the other side. That $700 million the President raised is going to be a drop in the bucket compared to what the billionaires are going to give the other side. Anyone who has been paying attention to what has been going on since the Citizens United decision understands that there is nothing "off" about that article.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. It's still too early. People don't start paying attention until after Labor Day.

Since we cannot beat the Citizens United machine, we have to be more strategic in how we use funding, preserving it for when we need it.

[flamingdem]

6. Yes, Obama's team is excellent with strategy

That will counter the Citizens United repuke attack

[Proud Liberal Dem]

7. The Convention & Debates

will (likely) sway a lot more voters IMHO than TV ads. Plus, Obama already has a head start on Romney in most states and doesn't need to spend that much time introducing himself to the American public like Romney does. Do I also need to mention that Obama is POTUS and is already highly visible because of that simple fact?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. I'm also beginning to think that because there are so many ads, people will start to tune out...

I know that Citizens United may do a lot of damage, but I'm not 100% convinced that we're in a disadvantaged position. People are becoming increasingly tired of the ads. It could backfire against the Republicans