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RNC Plans Ad Assault

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July 02, 2008 3:59 PM

ABC News’ Rick Klein Reports: The Republican National Committee is planning its first round of advertising to support Sen. John McCain’s candidacy, with an initial wave of ads set to run this weekend in four swing states, Republican officials tell ABC News.

The RNC’s initial buy of approximately $3 million will target the differences between McCain and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., on energy policy. The ads -- produced and purchased by the Republican Party’s newly established independent expenditure arm -- will air in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, according to GOP officials.

“Following Barack Obama's decision to become the only major party presidential candidate in history to not adhere to campaign spending caps, the Republican National Committee has begun an independent expenditure campaign in accordance with FEC regulations,” Brad Todd, who was named this week to head up the party’s independent expenditure arm, said in a statement provided to ABC News.

“The RNC will first advertise this weekend in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, highlighting the issue of energy security, which is emerging as a defining difference in the race for president,” Todd said. He declined to discuss the content of the ads in further detail.

Under federal law, the RNC can spend only $19.1 million in coordination with the McCain campaign. But it can spend unlimited sums through its independent expenditure entity, which legally cannot have any contact with RNC officials or the McCain campaign.

Such help will be critical for McCain particularly in light of Obama’s decision to reject public-financing spending limits. Some observers expect Obama to outspend McCain by a margin of 3- or 4-1 during the final two months of the campaign. With no major 527 groups emerging on the GOP side, the RNC will be charged with making up as much of that difference as possible.

Todd, a founding partner of the GOP ad firm OnMessage Inc., most recently handled ads for Gov. Bobby Jindal’s, R-La., 2007 gubernatorial race. In the 2006 cycle, his clients included Maryland Senate candidate Michael Steele and Michigan governor’s candidate Dick DeVos.

July 2, 2008 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (168)

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Obama is a weak, confused, unpatriotic, radical left-wing candidate. Way to go Dems, giving us yet another unelectable candidate. Another noble loser, like Dukakis, Gore, and Kerry.

Posted by: Jane | Jul 2, 2008 5:53:01 PM

“Following Barack Obama's decision to become the only major party presidential candidate in history to not adhere to campaign spending caps, the Republican National Committee has begun an independent expenditure campaign in accordance with FEC regulations,”

Yea right. It's Obama's fault. Playing to the extreme right of their party. Firm them up boys, there is nobody else to get.

Posted by: Thinking | Jul 2, 2008 5:53:05 PM

Well it's about friggin' time! I was wondering if the RNC and Repubs were ever going to finally start fighting back. We are going to need everything we can to fight these hateful Marxist Stalino-facist bastards from stifling dissent, silencing those who disagree, and robbing us of all of our freedom. These MoveOn.org groupies do this all in the name of their self-proclaimed and condescending belief that only a holy, pious government that implements their twisted version of morality is the end all, do all solution to all of our problems and the alpha and the omega that must be obeyed.

Posted by: Crusader | Jul 2, 2008 5:53:08 PM

Tony, Hillary said that Obama was not qualified to become PTUS..nothing has changed except dollars from his hand to hers!! She threw the majority of 18 million voters under the bus for a few dollars! She should have stuck with her word and told Obama and the DNC to shove it..so now you think she deserves our loyalty....no way will the majority of Hillary voters vote for Obama...we took her at her work...Obama is not qualified!!! She would have gotten more respect had she not sold herself and her credibility!

Posted by: mfmros | Jul 2, 2008 5:58:23 PM

mfmros -

You should stay home feeding BhO's dogs.

HRC did what she has to do, unless you want her to become Liberman.

It has nothing to do with money, although BhO frames it that way.

Posted by: skinny dog | Jul 2, 2008 6:03:35 PM

The American people are tired of all the lies the GOP are dishing out and it will show in the General Elections when President Obama would cream McSame.

President Obama - get use to it!

Posted by: ob08 | Jul 2, 2008 6:10:56 PM

prisoners released in columbia-----how convenient--- how much did mr nafta sell us out for now----columbia sure wants our jobs and money-----i sure would have liked to be a fly on the wall to hear this deal-----i guess we will hear about torture and a whole lot of repub pr.how long was this in the plans to glorify mcbush.

Posted by: rodney | Jul 2, 2008 6:13:29 PM

jane
and give us another bush way to go----this one is dumb and senile--cannot remember where sudan is.

Posted by: rodney | Jul 2, 2008 6:16:44 PM

When Barack Obama announced he would not be accepting public funds, he sited that attacks would be launched from entities not paid by John McCain's campaign.

Alas, he was right. Amazing how hollow the attacks on his choice not to have his campaign finances limited seem now.

Unfortunately for us, McCain and the RNC will almost certainly bombard us with manufactured claims, lies, and distortions practically continuously for the next 4 months. Just like they did to John Kerry in 2004.

So much for the straight talk express. The onslaught of slurs will just show that McCain is cut from the same cloth as George Bush. Such a shame too, as McCain actually is more honorable than that.

Posted by: Mickey | Jul 2, 2008 6:17:43 PM

it is amazing after 5 years of war and every concievable blunder high fuel prices ---no jobs--the repubs at election time will change and tell us what we want to hear---and if they get back in it all will start all over again---skunk cannot change his stripes.

Posted by: rodney | Jul 2, 2008 6:21:32 PM

Skinnydog....you mean to tell me that Hillary NOW thinks Obama is qualified..why did she go so far into debt and why would she run at all if she thought he was qualified? Was her word not to be trusted? She did not have to go independant...she could have just told the dnc that she would not back him and call it a day! She gambled and she lost...now she wants to recoup her money by selling her crediblity to Obama...I would not call that in the best interest of her supporters! Money talks and bs walks!

Posted by: mfmros | Jul 2, 2008 6:21:43 PM

HRC implied that Obama was unqualified because she was trying to beat him. Duh. She failed to beat him, so now it is on to plan B.

Posted by: jock59801 | Jul 2, 2008 6:26:15 PM

scott
when all the truth comes out about mccain the public will be shocked---this guy was and is a failure at all he has been involved in---dumbest in all his classes---and now people want him to run our country--remember it takes someone with a sharp mind and a goon education--top of the class not the bottom

Posted by: rodney | Jul 2, 2008 6:29:05 PM

The dems are digging their own graves by promoting an affirmative action phony. Pity, what a pity.

Posted by: skinny dog | Jul 2, 2008 6:35:06 PM

"Barack Obama has asked for this to be a non-mud-slinging election season."
It's nice when you can have your minions(Clark) sling the mud, so you can keep your hands nice and clean. Change my a$$.

Posted by: Mack | Jul 2, 2008 6:36:06 PM

"Barack Obama has asked for this to be a non-mud-slinging election season."

Who is the one who framed Joe Biden as a racist for praising him, and who framed the Clintons as playing racist card in the primaries?

Yeah, slinging butt.

Posted by: fact check | Jul 2, 2008 6:39:47 PM

Mack - Exactly what "mud" was Clark supposed to have slung? A reporter asked him if Obama was at a disadvantage because he hadn't had a plane shot down and he said No.

Posted by: jock59801 | Jul 2, 2008 6:42:47 PM

Well there is certainly lots and lots and lots of mud to be slung at Obama. It's pats time to start calling Obama out.

Posted by: chattyway | Jul 2, 2008 6:53:07 PM

Clarks comment was a cheap shot...meant as an emotional attack on McCain's military service...a poor attempt to neutralize the only candidates with military service military record. Obama's camp orchestrated it in hopes a dumb insult by another military guy (not even a good military guy) would somehow work. It failed and the attack was seen for what it was a childish name calling gimmick. Obama's comments about Clark and his flip flopping over this subject won't cover this up. If Obama had been 1/2 a man, he would have said yeah I have no military experience, but I am willing to learn and work with service men and women...but nope again he shows his true colors---yellow.

Posted by: chattyway | Jul 2, 2008 7:00:08 PM

Three years ago Obama was fixing parking tickets and zoning neighborhoods. Anyone who can honestly vote for him to be President of the United States is just not thinking straight. Seriously, not thinking at all. And hating the Bush administration is not a policy and is not a reason to vote for Obama because there is NO reason to vote for Obama.

Posted by: Chas | Jul 2, 2008 7:09:48 PM

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