RNC Gearing Up For Swing-State Ad Campaign Against Obama
Looks like the Republican money machine is really gearing up to go after Barack Obama.
The Republican National Committee -- the one arm of the GOP that has consistently out-raised its Democratic counterpart -- is planning to throw its formidable cash advantage into a new round of ads going after Barack Obama, set to air in the swing states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Roll Call reports that the RNC's initial ad campaign will cost $3 million, and go after Obama on "energy security" -- clearly part of McCain's current efforts to rephrase the issue of fuel prices in terms of national security rather than economics. The RNC's ad campaign was first reported by the Politico.
Despite all the talk about Barack Obama's fundraising prowess, it's worth keeping it in some perspective. The most recent numbers up through May showed that the RNC had a $50 million advantage over the DNC, way ahead of Obama's cash lead over McCain -- thus giving the GOP the real advantage in this area for now, unless the June numbers and Obama's decision to opt out of public finance can change things drastically.
Fear-mongering and magical POW aura are the only things they've got going for them so I'm not surprised. Soon I expect to see some 1930's-style propaganda posters of buck-toothed "coolies" loading buckets of oil onto a rickshaw.
July 2, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
That and the fact that Obama's energy plan doesn't harness a single bit of our own resources (oil, coal, natural gas) and does nothing to increase nuclear power(let's put together a committee to figure out what to do with the waste...). Windfall tax on the oil companies (=higher prices passed on to consumers) and figure something else out by 2030 or 2050...He needs to harness the wind power he produces and that might help.
July 3, 2008 8:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
If the RNC just converted all the cash they plan to spend on negative ads into stove pellets, we wouldn't have an energy crisis.
July 3, 2008 9:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
...Obama may want to add stove pelets to his energy plan...at least they exist.
July 3, 2008 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like it. "Harness" sounds so much better than "drilling" and "mining."
But unfortunately, we can't drill or mine our way to energy independence. But John McCain can and will drill and mine his way into the hearts of the oil and mining company executives! More money to the RNC, please!!
Same with his phony cap-and-trade bill with a "safety valve" where you actually do nothing after a certain point about carbon emissions. Roll on climate change!
July 3, 2008 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
...where you actually do nothing after a certain point about carbon emissions."
McCain=45 new atomic energy plants to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Obama= Set up a group to study nuclear waste, tax the oil companies (so they can pass the costs on to you) and use the money to hopefully invent something by 2030...or was it 2050?
July 3, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
How come we're not doing the attacking first unless something's planned that we don't know?
July 2, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because Obama is ahead in all of those states; you don't attack when you are ahead.
Keep in mind, this is July which I believe is traditionally early for a spend like this. For fear of sounding like Idiotic, this is very good news!
I think they are afraid that Obama is solidifying the Midwest which makes a winning McCain map very difficult to create. Assuming Obama wins Minnesota and Iowa too McCain would need every western state besides California and Washington (which are Obama-safe) and all of the southern states including Florida. It isn't likely.
July 2, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
and even then he'd need New Hampshire or Iowa or some other state to put him over the top.
If I were the NRC, I'd spend my money now and in those same states. If they can't flip a couple of them the rest of their money won't matter.
July 2, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, that makes sense about not attacking when you're ahead. But his response will be key. And as we all know that's where Kerry failed with the Swift Boat VFT. Obama and the DNC have an opportunity to impress with their response and also maybe this opens the door for them to highlight McCain's weaknesses.
July 2, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're spot on there. Three million, given the stakes, is more akin to a test-market buy.
For all of the talk out there, the reality is that neither player at this stage of the game have made a definitive move - McCain's ongoing (and growing) defensive posture speaks volumes, though.
July 2, 2008 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
If not for FISA I'd have loved to send Barack some money this month.
July 2, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
How much were you going to send? I would like to make up the difference.
July 2, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just look at what you wrote. Sad.
July 2, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh cry me a river, you fake Dem. Republican troll.
July 2, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Woodrow Stool:
I support your decision and your right to say it. The real Republican Trolls are the posters that think you should stay in Lock-Step with Their Party Position; that is Republican Group Think. Citizens have an obligation to speak out if they feel a candidate has abandoned his or her expressed principles, especially principles that may have drawn one to support the candidate. Sen. Obama has urged us to become involved and let our feelings be heard by the office holders and the electorate.
July 2, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for your support, jvwheel. It's nice to know that there is someone else here who won't try to stifle me and keep me from voicing my displeasure. Maybe it would be a good thing for Obama to fall behind so that he can see we are serious about FISA. But I know that we can not give to his campaign again until he agrees with our position. Hopefully that will not be too late, but if it is, then I have suffered through 8 years and surely can handle another 4 more.
July 2, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
About a week ago you wrote:
"I'm going to donate to Obama tonight. I'll include a little comment about the FISA vote. But I still think it's important to donate."
July 2, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's not going to change his position on FISA so perhaps you should donate to McCain now.
July 2, 2008 8:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's decision to opt out of public financing is looking wiser and wiser...
July 2, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep, most of us here supported the opt out for this reason.
July 2, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sort of ambivalent about the decision, but I don't think it's making any difference right now. You can donate up to the $2300 primary limit to Obama right now, and if you are maxed out, you can donate up to the $28,500 limit to the DNC right now.
The general election limits don't kick in until after the convention at the very end of August, so he would have had about $40M a month for the months of Sept. and Oct. and the first 4 days of Nov. I'm just hoping his supporters aren't coasting or tapped out by then.
July 2, 2008 5:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, that makes sense about not attacking when you're ahead. But his response will be key. And as we all know that's where Kerry failed with the Swift Boat VFT. Obama and the DNC have an opportunity to impress with their response and also maybe this opens the door for them to highlight McCain's weaknesses.
July 2, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
My mistake. See above.
July 2, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't McCain -Feingold supposed to end soft money ads? Can someone explain to me how the RNC can be running ads for McCain?
July 2, 2008 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Coordinated expenditures are resticted...Independent expenditures are not.
July 3, 2008 8:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
The RNC will be throwing some garbage at Obama soon. I don't think they can wait for McFuddle to develope a convincing and appealing message. I hope to manage my usual strong reaction to this shit but I do believe we haven't seen anything like it will be this election. slime...sleeze....fecal....
July 3, 2008 12:32 AM | Reply | Permalink