Kerry Ad buy doesn't include Va./Tenn.?

[UnityDem]

This concerns me a little. Are Virginia & Tennessee no longer considered "in play"?

NEW YORK (AP) -- John Kerry's $50 million post-Labor Day advertising effort will start in seven states before expanding to an additional 13, creating a coast-to-coast presidential battleground map by Nov. 2.

The Democrat's commercials begin airing Friday in Ohio, then next week in Florida, Iowa, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Wisconsin, according to Democratic officials familiar with the buy.

In an unusual strategy, the campaign was reserving airtime over the entire two-month period until the election. The rest of the states - Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Maine, Michigan, Arizona, Louisiana, Colorado, Arkansas and North Carolina and West Virginia - won't see the spots until later this fall.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CVN_CAMPAIGN_ADS?SITE=TNNAT&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[NMDemDist2]

1. they are also buying on cable news n/t

[soothsayer]

2. Seems to be an evolving strategy, so let's hope they treat VA as being

in play, cuz I feel like we are!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. It's more important that he visit

when he gets to do a rally, people get to see him in person, and that's when convinces people that he's our next president.

[John_H]

4. i don't think they're going to spend a few mil based on one poll

Plus, we don't know what the internals say--maybe it's not a dead heat there.

On the other hand, kerry has had major rallies in TN and VA this week.

As a general statement: Dems always have limitied money and thus have always had to make tough decisions with TV buys. More are on the way.

My suggestion: those of us in VA (TN, i'm personally less optomistic about TN) should work harder and maybe give some money to state and local parties for their GOTV efforts.

[21winner]

5. Plenty is left.

If Tn and Va look good it might change. I surely hope so.

[TheDonkey]

6. I wouldn't waste the money

if he can put more money in Ohio, WV, NH, Arkansas and NV then all the better as they were former red states that are reallyabout to turn blue.

Virginia and TN could turn blue but it would take more money than I'm sure he has.

[ItsMyParty]

7. I believe someone pointed out that there is some bleedover from

various states. You know, like a section of one state is getting the ads by listening to outlets from other states. There was a mention of a bleedover from Ohio into TN, I believe. One that has been making me scratch my head, though (could someone explain) is the MO situation. I thought we were neck and neck there while Ohio was somewhat slipping away. How come we don't sorta cut a bit in Ohio and pump MO?? I know parts of Wisconsin will be getting flow over from Iowa, etc. but I would think we need a little shot there because it's sort of slipping away, too.

[WI_DEM]

8. I don't worry about Kerry ignoring Virginia since last Zogby poll

just a few days ago has the race 48-47 Bush/Kerry.

But it is good to see the states involved. It is clear that Kerry thinks Ohio is winnable and is going all out there. It is the first state to get his ad buy and it is the first state he will visit after the RNC. Clearly we feel we can also take NH, Mo, Nv, Co, Ark, NC, and WVA from Bush or else we wouldn't be making an effort in those states.