Campaign Ad buys reflect ability to win state?

[papau]

The AP's Tom Raum says Bush increased its ads in four Gore states — Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Michigan — and cut back on ads in states that "appear to be moving out of play: Arizona and Missouri, which are moving Bush's way, and Maine and Washington, which slightly favor Kerry." as Kerry "moved up plans" to advertise in Michigan, Oregon, Maine and Minnesota!- Is Bush giving up on Nevada Oregon, Maine and Washington - does the weeks ad buys mean anything? I doubt it.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ads15sep15.story

Bush Casts Big Net; Kerry Picks Spots
Democrat's ad spending targets fewer states, possibly signaling a steeper challenge.
By Nick Anderson
Times Staff Writer

September 15, 2004

WASHINGTON — <snip>At the same time, Sen. John F. Kerry spent his TV dollars in a much narrower pool of eight crucial states (no longer advertising in Virginia and Louisiana and were barely on the air in Arkansas and North Carolina). Democratic allies, meanwhile, sought to keep Kerry's chances alive in Arizona, Colorado and Missouri with advertisements in those Bush-leaning states.

<snip>By contrast, from Sept. 5 through Saturday, Kerry targeted only eight states, The Times' data show: Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

<snip>In several states, the DNC appeared to be keeping Kerry afloat. For instance, it spent about $116,000 in Missouri, $83,000 in Arizona and $76,000 in Colorado.

<snip>Some of the most intense waves of advertising continue to fall on Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, with a combined 68 electoral votes at stake. Wisconsin and Iowa have emerged as major TV ad zones as well.

Last week, the Service Employees International Union pumped $159,000 into Wisconsin to attack Bush on healthcare. Progress for America, a pro-Bush group, spent $241,000 in Wisconsin and $146,000 in Iowa.

<snip>