Obama Outspending McCain Nearly 3 to 1 on Television

[JimGinPA]

Barack Obama is outspending John McCain at nearly a three-to-one clip on television time in the final weeks of the presidential election, according to ad buy information obtained by The Fix, a financial edge that is almost certainly contributing to the momentum for the Illinois senator in key battleground states.

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, Obama spent more than $20 million on television ads in 17 states including more than $3 million in Pennsylvania and more than $2 million each in Florida, Michigan and Ohio. McCain in that same time frame spent just $7.2 million in 15 states. Even when the Republican National Committee's independent expenditure spending in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin is factored in (a total of $5.3 million), Obama still outspent the combined GOP forces by roughly $8 million in the last week alone.

The spending edge enjoyed by Obama has been used almost exclusively to hammer McCain as both a clone of the current president and someone who is out of touch on key domestic issues -- most notably the economy. The assertion of Obama's spending edge has coincided with the collapse of the financial industry and a refocusing by voters on the economy to turn the election from a toss up to one in which the Democratic candidate has moved into a discernible lead.

More at link

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

[WeDidIt]

1. I expect him to step it up, too

He could spend four or five to one if I don't miss my guess about how much cash he has.

[ps1074]

2. Absolutely

I read last week that he will increase his spending by 20% each week until election. Last week he spent 13,5 million, this week 20 million... More like 35% or so...

Opting out of public financing was a very wise thing to do. If he was limited as McCain, I expect more of the midwest states still to have been tossups and McCain still to be in MI.

[hogwyld]

3. Someone said the other day that McFailin

is down to an estimated 27 million plus whatever the RNC has. Time to give some more to Obama!

[WeDidIt]

4. The RNC won't throw good money after bad

They've got Senate and House seats to defend. Betting on McCain is a sucker's bet right now.

[Median Democrat]

9. The RNC Has A Lot More Money Than DNC Due To 29K Contribution Limit

So the numbers are nearly as skewed as it seems.

[WeDidIt]

10. Actually, no they don't

The RNCC and the NRSC are both nearly broke and their Democratic coutnerparts are cash flush, which is why the RNC won't throw any more money to McCain.

They had to do the same with Dole in '96.

[Jersey Devil]

5. And McCain has no idea how much money Obama has and won't

until October 20th, which I believe the date the monthly reports are due. Meanwhile, the Obama campaign probably has a pretty good idea of what McCain has based on his previous spending and the amount of public financing he took.

Advantage Obama

Of course this does not account for 527s and the RNC but they have a lot of ships to save in this storm.

[rucky]

6. It's those 100 donors writing the 2-million dollar checks.

or something like that.

[Overseas]

7. Glad to hear it. Go for it. //nt

[NotThisTime]

8. And his poll numbers are reflecting accordingly :)