ads080108
On the homepage
Crimefighting
Out There
Mental health
Health care
Home | Politically Connected | National Politics | President
Minnesota no battleground state for ads
Record spending nationally by Obama and McCain has included just a drop in the bucket in the state.
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from President
Some battleground state.
At least as measured in spending on campaign advertising, Minnesota has remained a backwater in the presidential race.
While more than $50 million -- a record -- has been spent on presidential campaign ads nationwide during the past two months, John McCain and Barack Obama have spent just $645,000, combined, in Minnesota, according to the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project.
That's the least, by far, spent by the campaigns in 14 battleground states, according to the project, which tracks political advertising.
And while both campaigns have sent strong signals that they believe they can win Minnesota in November, the relative paltriness of their spending here suggests that for now it remains strictly a second-tier battleground.
For example, a combined $3.1 million has been poured into Wisconsin by Obama, McCain and the Republican National Committee.
The spending patterns indicate that the true battlegrounds so far have been in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Spending in those states totaled nearly $26 million between June 3, when the primary season ended, and July 26, the advertising project found. Ads run in 17 other states totaled about the same amount.
And despite Obama's massive fundraising lead over McCain, that hasn't translated into a comparable advantage in advertising. McCain's spending has outstripped Obama's in all of the battleground states, except North Dakota, Virginia and New Hampshire.
In Minnesota, for example, McCain has paid for $575,000 worth of ads to Obama's $70,000, and the Republican went on the air almost two weeks earlier than the Democrat.
But in total advertising nationwide, Obama is well ahead of McCain. Obama's campaign has spent more than $27 million, while McCain's has spent more than $21 million. That paid for more than 100,000 commercial airings.
One decided McCain advantage, one that he is expected to retain, is financial support from his party. The Republican National Committee spent $3.6 million, airing some 4,000 ads. The Democratic National Committee hasn't bought a single commercial.
Bob von Sternberg • 612-673-7184
Recent President stories
Obama proposes adding seats to Consumer Product Safety Commission, nominates new chairman - July 31, 2008
Obama proposes adding seats to Consumer Product Safety Commission, nominates new chairman - President Barack Obama is turning to South Carolina's former school superintendent to head an expanded Consumer Product Safety Commission, an embattled agency that has been criticized by advocates for being too cozy with industry. More
The Whistleblower blog has moved
The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]
Recent posts
  Open positions!A new career awaits. Look through thousands of listings to find your new job. Start now! No resume? No problem!Create a skills profile in minutes, let a recruiter match you to an open position. Click here to get started. |
Win tickets to the Dec. 3 performance of "In The Heights" at Orpheum Theatre.Vita.mn presents the Dec. 3 performance of "In The Heights" at Orpheum Theatre, and is hosting the official cast after party at First Avenue's Ritmo Caliente. |
Comment on this story | Read all 6 comments | Hide reader comments