StarTribune.com
buzz101008

Home | Politically Connected | National Politics

Obama goes prime time

Last update: October 9, 2008 - 11:29 PM

Sen. Barack Obama has become the first presidential candidate in 16 years to buy a half-hour of prime time network television for a campaign infomercial.

Officials at the Obama campaign and at several television networks said Thursday that Obama had completed deals to show a program about his candidacy at 8 p.m. Oct. 29 on CBS and NBC, less than a week before Election Day. The campaign is also talking to ABC and Fox, though the potential of a World Series Game 6 may make a deal impossible on Fox.

It was an extraordinary move illustrating the spending flexibility Obama enjoys by not participating in the federal campaign finance system, which imposes spending limits in return for matching funds. As a participant, Sen. John McCain would have a hard time matching the move, though there were indications that he might try to do so on at least one network.

Neither network officials nor Obama campaign aides would discuss the cost of the television time. Commercial time alone between 8 and 8:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night would cost about $2 million per network.

NEW YORK TIMES

Comment on this story  |  Read all 4 comments  |  Hide reader comments


Subscribe

Minneapolis mansion once for sale on eBay is now focus of investment scheme under scrutiny

The Van Dusen mansion, a palatial pink stone pile built in 1892 at 1900 LaSalle Avenue, was put up for sale in 2006 on eBay. Now the company that owns it, Oxford Global Advisors LLC, is one of the entities in legal trouble with two Ohio families and their pastor, who filed a federal lawsuit [...]

Recent posts

Shopping + Classifieds
Yellow Pages

Get A Professional

Find home maintenance, car repair, legal advice, cleaning, and more in the Yellow Pages. Go now!
Coupons and Deals

Save Your $$ With Coupons

Discounts on services, entertainment, dining, gifts, and more. Start saving!

Vacation Donation Contest

Win a $500 grocery store gift card!

See all contests