A rise in issue advertising, the so-called "permanent presidential campaign" and early primary elections could combine to drive 2009 political advertising to "well over $1 billion this year," according to Evan Tracey, founder and president of the Campaign Media Analysis Group. Commenting following an address he made to the Media Financial Management Association's convention in Atlanta, Tracey warned it's too early for solid predictions, given how much is still up in the air, and said that $1 billion is the high end of a wide range that could go as low as $400 million to $700 million. Even that lower amount would be a record for an off political year, however, as Tracey pointed out in his address. One reason is an increase in advocacy advertising, which "is headed for a record year this year," he said.
