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Evan Tracey
McCain Picks Bad Time to Cede Battleground
Submitted by Benton Foundation on September 28, 2008 - 8:23pmLast updated: October 1, 2008 - 2:04pm
Last week, Sen John McCain (R-AZ) took a bold risk and suspended his campaign to go to Washington to help resolve the country's economic crisis. On the one hand this move is consistent with his "country first" brand, but on the other hand a total suspension of his campaign may jeopardize his party's chances this fall.
100 Days of Negative Ads, Costing $350 Million
Submitted by Benton Foundation on August 18, 2008 - 7:03pmLast updated: August 18, 2008 - 7:03pm
Lately, the race for the White House has been an eruption of hard-hitting negative ads. If the current rate of attack ads continues, this election will have more than 100 uninterrupted days of negative ads with a potential cost of more than $350 million (and that is just from the candidates).
Election Year Rains Millions on Media Outlets
Submitted by Benton Foundation on August 4, 2008 - 8:42amLast updated: August 4, 2008 - 8:43am
While there are less than 100 days left to the election, there are still billions of dollars to be spent on ads. With the countdown to Election 2008 upon us, below is your viewing guide to all things political advertising -- from what we have seen to what we expect will keep us talking.
Ad-Spending Battlefield Takes Shape
Submitted by Benton Foundation on July 16, 2008 - 7:26amLast updated: July 16, 2008 - 7:26am
With 115 days left before the election, it is now clear what ad strategies the two candidates are going to use in the race for the White House.
Ten Things Obama Can Do With All That Money
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 24, 2008 - 8:49pmHaving opted out of public funding for his run for president, how can Sen Barack Obama spend all the money he's raising?
Lessons From the Primary
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 16, 2008 - 5:51pmLast updated: August 7, 2008 - 11:37am
Now that the primaries are over it's time for the two remaining campaigns to reflect and decide what lessons should be carried over to the general election.
Race for the White House: No Laughing Matter
Submitted by Benton Foundation on June 3, 2008 - 7:43amLast updated: August 7, 2008 - 11:28am
The most successful political ads make emotional connections. Too often, campaign ad gurus rely on fear, anxiety and anger to connect with voters. The rule at play here is it's easier to motivate by fear than by love.
General Election Ad Spending Will Be Turned Up to 11
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 20, 2008 - 8:54pmRight now, the volume of general election ads hardly registers. However, if you have ever turned on your car after you had previously been driving with the radio volume turned all the way up then you know what to expect -- a startling blast.
Obama Takes Star Turn in Republican Ads
Submitted by Benton Foundation on May 5, 2008 - 7:33amBarack Obama's campaign has spent more than $70 million to air more than 121,000 campaign ads. But the ads starring Obama that his campaign is not paying for are attracting the most attention.
A Bitter Taste of Things to Come
Submitted by Benton Foundation on April 21, 2008 - 9:13amA few weeks back, I wrote that political pundits and junkies alike should pay close attention to the special election in the 14th Congressional District of Illinois for a preview of the general election ad wars.
