On The Day McCain Campaign Was "Suspended," He Ran Over 1,300 Ads
The last thing you need is yet more proof that the McCain campaign "suspension" was a big ruse, but this is a pretty funny postscript.
Buried in that Wisconsin Advertising Project report I mentioned below is this shining gold nugget:
On September 24, his campaign aired 2,447 ads and on Sept. 25, it aired 1,304 ads. From September 26-28, McCain aired 302, 670, and 852 ads respectively. On September 29, the campaign returned to previous advertising levels, airing 2,687 ads."
McCain suspended his campaign on the afternoon of Sept. 24th, and attended the debate on the 26th. On Sept. 25th -- the only full day of the suspension -- McCain's campaign ran a grand total of 1,304 ads. That's roughly half the campaign's ordinary level of advertising -- still a very heavy level.
To be fair, the numbers do show the McCain team did make an effort to pull ads down. But as the head of the Ad project told The Swamp blog, "It's not clear how hard they tried."
More to the point, whether the campaign tried or not, in the real world, McCain's suspension just didn't end up being the heroic act of self-sacrifice he claimed it to be.
Not to mention all the free air time Johnny Drama got out of the stunt.
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
October 8, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain suffers a flashback, and is back in the Hanoi Hilton, or did someone in the audience draw a cross in the dirt that his little Barbiecuda was preparing to sling.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RqGsn6kwK6g
October 8, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
This link no longer works. New one below.
October 8, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain suffers a flashback, and is back in the Hanoi Hilton, or did someone in the audience draw a cross in the dirt that his little Barbiecuda was preparing to sling.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7AET4i6L74
October 8, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe it was a backhanded way to cut down on advertising costs.
Reducing ads to save expense? insane
REducing ads because you've 'suspended the campaign'? brilliant.
October 8, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its pretty obvious they were trying to save money. He's being out spent in almost all of the battleground states.
October 8, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems a bit of a loser to pursue. What about tracking down whether his surrogates stopped campaigning on TV?
(No, they did not.)
October 8, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
That, and keep in mind that bought airtime is bought airtime. If they had bought blocks of time in different markets, they'll keep running as they are already paid for.
Counting ads isn't a way to track whether he suspended anything. If we counted ad buys, that would be the way to go.
October 8, 2008 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suspect if they called a TV station and it had back-up ad inventory to run in the slot, they'd be able to work a deal. After all, campaign ads get a discount, no? A TV station would likely rather sell the slot at full price.
October 8, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
True, but that would require coordination within the McCain campaign.
October 8, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
This story really doesn't matter much now - the general public simply didn't buy into McCain's stunt.
It's still worthwile pointing out that he didn't really suspend his campaign but I would imagine most people kind of cringe a bit when he brings it up. It reminds them of the bad press he got over pretending he was doing it to save the country. Not to mention being shown up as a liar on Letterman.
October 8, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
OT: Donna Brazile on a New Yorker magazine panel. She is a dynamite. Love Donna!!!
http://jezebel.com/5059945/donna-brazile-is-not-going-to-the-back-of-the-bus?cpage=2&sort=asc#viewcomments
October 8, 2008 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a fantastic clip for anyone who hasn't seen it. Brought tears to my eyes.
October 8, 2008 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has this occurred to anyone else but me?
"My fellow prisonsers..."
Uh oh.
flashbacks.
October 8, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It does shine a light into McCain's psychology. I guess when you've been a prisoner for five and a half years you remain one for the rest of your life. But then maybe that's not the sort of psychology we want running the free world.
October 8, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
To take it to a ridiculous extreme, does he view Obama as his captor?
October 8, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where's TheraP?
October 8, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
She must be with another patient; please leave your name and number and we will get back to you. Thank you.
;)
October 8, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh no, the plane's gonna crash (again).
October 8, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Eject!
October 8, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm assuming this is how many TIMES the ads ran? I can't possibly conceive his poor PR team editing literally 1300 ads.
DUR!!!
October 8, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed it occured, Tena,,,,, get the pink slip and call the squad, prepare the rubber room for its next guest.
October 8, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I'm not trying to be mean - this sincerely occurred to me because the man is under pressure, god knows, and we all know this is a common problem for people who have been in unimaginable situations.
October 8, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
My fellow prisoners
How about a freudian slip accurately describing the current condition of the country under Smirky/Darth?
Or how he feels chained to the 20-ton anchor Palin has become?
October 8, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's amazing is how, as he did in the debate last night, McCain still plays the "I suspended my campaign" card.
Sometimes I wonder, is he delusional or merely mendacious?
October 8, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS
October 8, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
IS
October 8, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
EXCELLENT
October 8, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
NEWS
October 8, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
FOR.....
October 8, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCAIN!!!!!!!
October 8, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bill Clinton campaigns for Obama in Virginia on Sunday having events in Roanoke and Richmond.
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/10/bill-clinton-campaign-virginia-obama
October 8, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been home sick today so I apologize if this has been brought up already. But McCain's "new" mortgage plan is pissing off a ton of conservatives. I've heard several local GOPers say they're now going to be voting for Barr.
October 8, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm. Maybe I should throw a donation Barr's way...
October 8, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is really not a good year for small government folks. I imagine there's going to be a big sea change in the GOP if Obama wins.
October 8, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
It hasn't been a good 8 years for small government folks. The GOP has been that in name only for some time.
Maybe they will finally go back to the fiscal responsibility meme that they used to carry. 'Cause right now, they represent a person with a spending addiction.
October 8, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
The fact that he has to remind everybody that he "suspended" his campaign says it all.
Nobody cares.
He's a liar. She's a big liar. She can't even talk to reporters.
This must be the kind of campaign Rove runs when he ain't getting drug-tested every week.
Hey Rush, you holding?
October 8, 2008 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Like most of you, I'm watching the polls like a hawk. While the RCP average for Ohio is Obama up by 4 points, that's not the whole story. Depending on the pollster, he's up by as much as 8.
Here's the breakdown:
RCP Average:
Obama (D) - 048.9 McCain (R) - 44.9 Spread - Obama +4.0
CNN/Time:
Obama - 50 MCain - 47 Spread - Obama +3
FOX News/Rasmussen:
Obama - 47 Mccain - 48 Spread - McCain +1
PPP:
Obama - 49 McCain - 43 Spread - Obama +6
ABC News/Wash Post:
Obama - 51 MCain - 45 Spread - Obama +6
Columbus Dispatch*:
Obama - 49 McCain - 42 Spread - Obama +7
Democracy Corps:
Obama - 49 McCain - 43 Spread - Obama +6
InAdv/PollPosition:
Obama - 47 McCain - 45 Spread - Obama +2
SurveyUSA
Obama - 48 McCain - 49 Spread - McCain +1
Quinnipiac:
Obama - 50 McCain - 42 Spread - Obama +8
The Columbus Dispatch polled 2262 people, 2 -3 times more than the rest of the pollsters. Being local probably gives them an edge in terms of reliability. too.
October 8, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was just looking at leans Republican West Virginia. The last 2 polls there were in late September (50-46, 50-42). I wonder what's been going on there since the start of the debates?
October 8, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Natch, uh, Jackson, of course I'm holding...
October 8, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Axelrod is reporting that the Obama camp now has 4M donors to the campaign. I believe the primary season ended with 2.5M donors, so Obama has gained 1.5M in the general election.
I think the September numbers could be huge. I expect they'll drop it on a Friday or even over the weekend as to not attract much interest - both because it might discourage future donations and because the McCain Camp will make a big stink out of Obama "buying" the presidency.
October 8, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
good analysis
October 8, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amazing.
October 8, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Suspend reason buy into McInsane suspended campaign . . .
The man with cold, dead shark-eyes and the polar bear killer are a pair of unbridled aminals who talk a mediocre fantasy . . .
October 8, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting campaign strategy that McCain-Palin are using: LIES, HYPOCRISY and FRAUD.
October 8, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Suspending" his campaign was a warm-up for the McCain-Palin effort to suspend reality.
October 9, 2008 1:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cindy McCain calls Obama's the "dirtiest campain in history".
Obama may have bought a $3 million projector.
But McCain is married to a $100 million projector.
Now...
Let us reflect on the gift that Sarah Palin has given us all:
http://thetruthburns.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/maybe-i-aint-no-genius-but-is-sure-is-smartern-her/
October 9, 2008 6:10 AM | Reply | Permalink