Obama Dominating On-Air Spending in Wisconsin
WisPolitics reports Sen. Barack Obama is outspending Sen. Hillary Clinton four-to-one in television ads in the Madison and Milwaukee markets:
According to the reports, Obama has spent $831,880 on TV ads through Tuesday’s primary in Madison and Milwaukee. Clinton has spent $180,990.
Obama, who went up on the air in Wisconsin five days before Clinton, has spent $506,870 on the four network affiliates in the Milwaukee market, which is home to the state’s largest African American population. Obama has held a significant edge over Clinton among black voters in recent primaries and caucuses.
Obama has spent $325,010 on the four network affiliates in the Madison market, according to the reports.
Clinton has also spent the bulk of her money in the Milwaukee market, purchasing $117,795 worth of ads there. She has spent $63,195 in the Madison market.
Madison and Milwaukee are where Democratic voters are concentrated. There are also plenty of votes in the western part of the state as well as the Fox River Valley, the swing portion of the state. It would be interesting to see how much money Obama and Clinton are spending in the Minneapolis-St. Paul markets to reach some of those western voters.
The Democrats’ tv ads centered around a back-and-forth over debates. Clinton wanted a Wisconsin debate while Obama noted they’ve debated 18 times before (but only once head-to-head). The argument played out on Face the Nation:
SCHIEFFER: David Axelrod, Senator Clinton wants more debates. Why not more debates?
Mr. AXELROD: Well, we have one coming up next Thursday in Texas, Bob, and one five days later in Ohio. We’ve debated 18 times already, this would make 19 and 20 … Debates are important, and we want to participate them, but it–in them, but it’s also important to go out, meet people, have interchanges with voters, have town hall meetings …
SCHIEFFER: With all respect, aren’t you just doing what people do when they think they’re the front-runner? If you’re ahead, you don’t debate; if you’re not ahead, you say `let’s debate.’ Isn’t that really what you’re doing here? ….
Mr. WOLFSON: The Obama strategy here is essentially to debate in states where they’re behind, but not debate in states where they’re ahead.
Mr. AXELROD: That’s nonsense.
Mr. WOLFSON: Well, you’re debating in Ohio and Texas…
Mr. AXELROD: That’s nonsense.
Mr. WOLFSON: …where you’re behind, but you don’t want to debate in Wisconsin, where you’re ahead. That’s flat–that’s certainly the case.
I get the sense that Obama is ahead in Wisconsin. He has the backing of Gov. Jim Doyle and Rep. Gwen Moore. Obama’s also a Midwesterner who won in Iowa and Minnesota. Knowing that it’s understandable Clinton is cutting out a day sooner than expected.
Like in previous contests this season the Democratic turnout should tower over the Republican’s. In the case of Wisconsin it won’t be as much about greater intensity from Democrats. On the GOP side Sen. John McCain is close to wrapping up the nomination. The interesting race is on the Democratic side. Since Wisconsin has an open primary (with same-day registration) a lot of independents will vote for one of the Democrats.
“Obama Outspending Clinton 4-to-1 in Madison, Milwaukee on TV Ads” [via memeorandum]
UPDATE: WISN followed Sen. McCain as he stumped around Wisconsin.
UPDATE II: Commenter Keith who lives in the Twin Cities hasn’t seen any Obama or Clinton ads. I guess spending that much to reach Western Wisconsin via TV isn’t worth it. He did note that a number of Obama supporters have been canvassing in the La Crosse area.
The argument that front-runners never want to debate is a valid one, i suppose. But really, making an issue out of that? It really makes Hillary look desperate and out of ideas.
I have a co-worker who is a Republican, along with her husband, although they call themselves socially liberal and economically conservative, so, Libertarian, whatever. Anyway, she and her husband are voting for Obama, and not just because the GOP primary is wrapped up. They plan to vote for him in the general as well, should he secure the Dem nod.