National ads a go for election season

Jill Barshay Dec 28, 2007

TEXT OF STORY

Renita Jablonski: Meanwhile, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is buying up TV time. He launches one of the first national television ads today in the presidential campaign season. Jill Barshay reports.


Rudy Giuliani ad: We’re going to stand up to you, and we’re going to prevail. I’m Rudy Giuliani . . .

Jill Barshay: Giuliani is paying the Fox News channel on cable TV to air his first national ad. Twenty-three states will hold primaries or caucuses on Super Duper Tuesday.

Evan Tracey of the Campaign Media Analysis Group says national ads are one of the most cost-effective ways to reach voters:

Evan Tracey: No campaign is going to have enough money to efficiently target all of these Feb. 5 states. So they’re going to have to look for some national outlets. Cable TV is one, probably syndicated radio is another.

Tracey says campaigns and interest groups have already spent $90 million on TV spots, compared to just $5 million on the Internet. He predicts TV companies could earn close to $800 million before the election is over — double the amount of 2004.

In New York, I’m Jill Barshay for Marketplace.

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