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Obama Buys Primetime Television Time Before Election

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October 09, 2008 5:53 PM

ABC News' John Berman Reports: Barack Obama is ready for primetime.

The Obama campaign has bought a half hour block of primetime television -- from 8-8:30pm ET -- on Wednesday, Oct. 29, on CBS, NBC, and MSNBC, according to television industry sources.

The bold buy, first reported by the Hollywood Reporter and featured on the Drudge Report, will put the Obama show uninterrupted to American television sets across the country less than one week before election day.  The Obama camp remains in talks with other networks to do the same on other channels.

Evan Tracey, chief operating officer of the Campaign Media Analysis Group or CMAG, estimates that 30 minutes of primetime network television would cost at least $500,000.

Sen. Obama is at greater liberty to make such a large buy late in the election game due in part to his decision to reject public financing of his presidential run -- and the spending limits that come with it -- a move Sen. John McCain has criticized.

"[Obama] said," McCain told ABC News "World News" anchor Charlie Gibson in an interview on Thursday, "He wrote down a piece of paper that he would take public financing for his presidential campaign if I would.  He betrayed the trust of the American people there."

McCain continued blast Obama for forgoing public funds adding, "He looked in the camera twice during the debate with Sen. Clinton and said, 'I will sit down and negotiate with John McCain before I decide to forgo public financing for my campaign.'  He never called me.  He looked in the camera and told the American people something that was patently false."

As the Hollywood Reporter notes in their original report, Reform Party candidate H. Ross Perot bought national television time prior to the 1992 election.

Both Obama and McCain bought advertising during the Olympics and, earlier this year, the Obama camp looked into the possibility of sponsoring a Sprint Cup car in NASCAR race.

ABC News' Tahman Bradley contributed to this report.

October 9, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Clinton, Hillary, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (977)

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April 2008.

Hillary CLINTON: "Well, I think that is a fair general statement, but I also believe that Senator Obama served on a board with Mr. Ayers for a period of time, the Woods Foundation, which was a paid directorship position.

And, if I'm not mistaken, that relationship with Mr. Ayers on this board continued after 9/11 and after his reported comments, which were deeply hurtful to people in New York and, I would hope, to every American, because they were published on 9/11, and he said that he was just sorry they hadn't done more.

And what they did was set bombs. And in some instances, people died. So it is - I think it is, again, an issue that people will be asking about.

And I have no doubt - I know Senator Obama's a good man and I respect him greatly, but I think that this is an issue that certainly the Republicans will be raising. And it goes to this larger set of concerns about how we are going to run against John McCain."

Posted by: Hillary Thinks Ayers is Relevant | Oct 9, 2008 5:57:37 PM

It is reasonable to ask whether ACORN is in fact a criminal conspiracy to subvert the voting rights of Americans. Which makes it all the more remarkable that Barack Obama paid ACORN $800,000 to register new voters, and then lied about it, falsely telling the Federal Elections Commission that the $800,000 went to a group called Citizen Services Inc. for "advance work."

Posted by: No Obama Never | Oct 9, 2008 5:59:37 PM

OCTOBER SURPRISE!!!

TROOPERGATE REPORT COMES OUT TOMORROW!!!

http://www.adn.com/palin/story/550940.html

Now we can ALL see what McCain and Palin were so desperately trying to hide for the past 5-6 weeks!!!!!

I am sure since McCain and his dirty trick lawyers have been trying to cover it up for over a month, that it AIN'T GOIN TO BE PRETTY!!!

Bye, bye McNasty and your Moose with lipstick too!!!

Posted by: Davis | Oct 9, 2008 6:01:10 PM

No suprise it will be nothing not like ACORN is going to be!

Posted by: No Obama Never | Oct 9, 2008 6:02:48 PM

Obama is going to need Prime Time to lie about his Lies and ACORN!

Posted by: No Obama Never | Oct 9, 2008 6:04:01 PM

Bozo has to buy air time the Wednesday before election day and he'll have his well crafted speech from one of his script writers...and nothing he can say to change this Hillary supporter to vote for him...I've been with McCain since Hillary dropped out and love the addition of Palin.
Obama can buy up all the time on every network and I don't give and F.....he is UNACCEPTABLE....no man of his word like Sen. McCain.....SCREW B. HUSSEIN.

Posted by: Hope, Change, Hate, Nobama '08 | Oct 9, 2008 6:06:50 PM

What about Sarah Palin's association with the American Independence Party? The group's stated goal is to secede from the United States -- a treasonous offense. Todd Palin was a member of this party, and Sarah Palin attended at least two of their conventions and -- whoops! -- spoke to their convention as recently as this past Summer. The founder of the party, the late Joe Voegler, once condemned the American flag. Where are the questions about whether Palin loves the American flag?

What about Sarah Palin's association with the witch doctor, Pastor Muthee, who blessed Palin at her church and prayed for her "finances"? Does Sarah Palin believe in witches? Does Sarah Palin support witch hunts? Does she know who Cotton Mather was?

What about Sarah Palin's association with indicted Senator Ted "Tubes" Stevens, whose 527 organization was run by Sarah Palin?

Then there's Senator McCain.

What about Senator McCain's association with convicted Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy? This is the guy who, on the public airwaves, instructed his viewers about how to kill a federal agent. This is the guy who boasted that he fired a handgun at a cardboard standee of Senator Hillary Clinton. Yet Senator McCain has appeared on Liddy's radio show numerous times since these statements -- as recently as May, 2008.

What about Senator McCain's relationship with pastor Rod Parsley, who wants to engage in religious warfare?

What about Senator McCain's relationship with anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic pastor John Hagee?

Should I go on?

What about Senator McCain's relationship with his chief campaign advisor Charlie Black who said a terrorist attack would help the campaign?

What about Senator McCain's association with Shelley Shannon who is accused of shooting and wounding an abortion doctor?

What about Senator McCain's association with Charles Keating? What about his association with Freddie Mac lobbyist Rick Davis -- you know, John McCain's campaign manager? What about his association with the U.S. Council for World Freedom, whose board also included a Nazi sympathizer?

Posted by: karen | Oct 9, 2008 6:07:00 PM

Karen: got any left in that bottle your sipping from?

Posted by: david | Oct 9, 2008 6:13:26 PM

karen....your desperation is showing....there is nothing other than Keating 5 in McCain's background that is questionable....$112,000, he was exonerated from. You can't even come close WITH ANYTHING on either McCain and Palin as Barack Hussein Obama's list is too long to mention here....but Presidential candidates don't associate with racists for 20 years, crooks that buy parts of their homes, terriorists here and abroad. There isn't anyone who would question John McCain's ALL AMERICANISM.....but your rootless cosmopolitan.....world citizen, socialism first candidate....ISN'T THE BLACK GUY TO BE THE FIRST BLACK PREZ.

Posted by: Hope, Change, Hate, Nobama '08 | Oct 9, 2008 6:14:15 PM

I'm impressed that in these terrible economic times that Obama is able to raise enough money to compete in spending with McCain.

Posted by: MIguy | Oct 9, 2008 6:14:19 PM

Karen, The Ayers connection is the "HOLY GRAIL" of all negative associations that can be relative to this election and YOU KNOW IT!!!!

GET OVER IT!!!!!!

Posted by: David | Oct 9, 2008 6:16:04 PM

The affirmative action candidates are on both sides. We've got the senior citizen and special needs person on our side as Republicans. What the heck is wrong with this picture?

Posted by: 1percenter | Oct 9, 2008 6:16:16 PM

Sarah Palin's husband ADMITS tampering with worker comp claims. Says he DID pressure the top-cop as well. Says Sarah had nothing to do with it.

If you believe she didnt know, Ive got a bridge to nowhere to sell ya! You Betcha!

Posted by: bubba | Oct 9, 2008 6:16:59 PM

What about Sarah Palin's association with the American Independence Party? The group's stated goal is to secede from the United States -- a treasonous offense. Todd Palin was a member of this party, and Sarah Palin attended at least two of their conventions and -- whoops! -- spoke to their convention as recently as this past Summer. The founder of the party, the late Joe Voegler, once condemned the American flag. Where are the questions about whether Palin loves the American flag?

What about Sarah Palin's association with the witch doctor, Pastor Muthee, who blessed Palin at her church and prayed for her "finances"? Does Sarah Palin believe in witches? Does Sarah Palin support witch hunts? Does she know who Cotton Mather was?

What about Sarah Palin's association with indicted Senator Ted "Tubes" Stevens, whose 527 organization was run by Sarah Palin?

Then there's Senator McCain.

What about Senator McCain's association with convicted Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy? This is the guy who, on the public airwaves, instructed his viewers about how to kill a federal agent. This is the guy who boasted that he fired a handgun at a cardboard standee of Senator Hillary Clinton. Yet Senator McCain has appeared on Liddy's radio show numerous times since these statements -- as recently as May, 2008.

What about Senator McCain's relationship with pastor Rod Parsley, who wants to engage in religious warfare?

What about Senator McCain's relationship with anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic pastor John Hagee?

Should I go on?

What about Senator McCain's relationship with his chief campaign advisor Charlie Black who said a terrorist attack would help the campaign?

What about Senator McCain's association with Shelley Shannon who is accused of shooting and wounding an abortion doctor?

What about Senator McCain's association with Charles Keating? What about his association with Freddie Mac lobbyist Rick Davis -- you know, John McCain's campaign manager? What about his association with the U.S. Council for World Freedom, whose board also included a Nazi sympathizer?

Posted by: karen | Oct 9, 2008 6:17:11 PM

Not a surprise for a rock star. Funny way to spend all the money gotten in small amounts!!!! Good chance to answer all of the questions about his past and current associates. Well one can always wish.

Posted by: William | Oct 9, 2008 6:18:17 PM

oh really? David? Methinks not.

Looks like McCain is trying and trying and trying to make Ayers the holy grail...but pssst....guess what? It's been tried before and it's not working...

BUT the American people deserve to know McCain's dirt and I'm thinking they're going to get to pretty darn soon. :)

Posted by: karen | Oct 9, 2008 6:19:02 PM

Sarah Palin's husband ADMITS tampering with worker comp claims. Says he DID pressure the top-cop as well. Says Sarah had nothing to do with it.

THey actually found someone MORE corrupt than McCain to be his running mate. Its a miracle!

Posted by: bubba | Oct 9, 2008 6:20:07 PM

Dear God,

Please let November 5th come swiftly I am so sick of John McCain.

AMEN

Posted by: Jessica | Oct 9, 2008 6:21:17 PM

Karen, McCain's add on Ayers just came out this morning for the first time. Certainly not enough lapse of time to have gone by to be able to conclusively say it's not going to work.

Posted by: David | Oct 9, 2008 6:21:50 PM

Acorn, ACORN ACORN, CHEATING CHEATING CHEATING. This election is already in the tank. From the left Media lying about Obama and hiding his past to ACORN, registaring fake voters for the Dems and only the Dems. There is also talk about Obama obtaining money illegally from donors who have donated the max. The Dems are shady and pulling out all the stops. WE need to stop them. VOTER FRAUD IS ILLEGAL

Posted by: Curious George | Oct 9, 2008 6:22:18 PM

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