How much does it cost to make a commercial?

[GingerSnaps]

If all of the DU members pitched in $20.00 dollars each to fund a commercial would we be able to pay for one that way?

[mr_hat]

1. IIRC, the typical cost for a 30-sec spot is around $275k. >

That's for selling panty hose and lite beer, however, not candidates.

[NMDemDist2]

2. and that doesn't include air time n/t

[Poiuyt]

3. That would be a little steep for a political ad.

Around $30-50,000 depending on how it was done.

[GingerSnaps]

5. Would that be for a one time run in one state?

If it would be a commercial that would run until November it would be worth gathering up the funds over the Internet.

I would like to find the guys who served in the war with Bush and do a commercial with them but that's not going to happen because they don't exist.

I will stick to passing out flyer's on my own.

[NEDem]

4. Move On

has a war chest of great ads from their contest, they're done, just need to buy the airtime. That's where it gets real expensive.

[quaoar]

6. Does it have to be a TV ad?

How about something more affordable?

Newspaper ads are a lot cheaper, especially in smalltown papers.

Or how about a billboard?

Or how about a skywriter?

Lots of possibilities.

[tedoll78]

7. Hey!!!

I like the idea of a newspaper ad!

We could have people telling lies about the Chimp's battle stories, just like they tell lies about Kerry's battle stories! Imagine:

"He did a line of coke off of a hooker's back. Then he punched a hole in the wall before passing out."

"He fell down a flight of stairs, laughed it off, and then dry-humped a mailbox to full orgasm For the rest of the night, he wore those stained jeans."

"He knocked-up this 15-year-old chick, drove her to a backalley doctor, and then never talked to her again."

For you Daily Show fans: "He licked a goat's balls on a dare for $5. Then he puked into the aquarium."

"He drove drunk and got away with it for just a simple fine."

Hehe..

[DaveinMD]

8. newspaper ads

are very ineffective. Do you remember newspaper ads you read today. People gloss over them.

[tedoll78]

9. Here's a good question then...

LEt's say we were to pick a swing state. Florida, for example.
And let's say we were to pick a very conservative area in Florida.. somewhere in the panhandle. Somewhere where Bush won with at least 60% of the vote, for instance.

And let's say we were to buy a billboard in that area. And the message on it wouldn't be any ordinary message - it'd be one taunting the conservatives in that area with how allegedly "liberal" Bush has been in some policy areas.

For instance, how about these billboards:

"Did you know..? Bush appointed an openly gay ambassador and has his partner recognized at official state events."

"Did you know..? Under Bush's 3.5 years, non-security and non-defense federal spending has gone UP more than all of the Clinton's 8 years combined."

"Did you know..? Bush has proposed significantly raising the yearly limits on how many Mexicans can enter the country."

And so on.. (you get the idea).

My question to you (and all others) after this proposal:
would this deflate conservative morale in those voting precincts, causing lower turnout - or would this enflame conservative voters with anger, causing higher turnout?

I've always wondered how such a move would play-out in an election..

[DaveinMD]

10. I think

that would be a waste of resources. I'd rather pay for a phone bank or mailing in Democratic areas to turn out the democratic vote.

[Poiuyt]

11. That's the best way to sell conservatives

Attack Bush from the right. Since Bush is not a typical conservative (high budget deficits, amnesty for illegals, etc), the best way to get traditional Republicans to not vote for him would be to point out how un-Republican he really is.

[kiahzero]

14. Just look at Nader

That's what the Republican party is trying to do with Nader. Unfortunately, some people who should know better have drunken the Kool-Aid.

[quaoar]

12. Depends on the ad

What if the ad was made to look like a typical newspaper obituary -- only the death being advertised is the Bush presidency?

[mdguss]

13. A good one, that got national coverage:

It's usually 15 percent of whatever the ad buy is for the consultant. I'd say a good one that will garner coverage where it runs, and will be seen often enough to make a difference, would cost between 500,000 and 1,000,000 dollars. At 20 bucks each, that'd be 25,000 donors.

[thebigidea]

15. in my case, one night's sleep and plenty of coffee