DES MOINES, IA.–After a short Chrisman break, five Democrats and three GOP presidential contenders plus their surrogates are stumping in Iowa on Wednesday, as their television spots saturate the airwaves.
Between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m., with just a bit of channel surfing, I saw two Barack Obama spots; two Mitt Romney; two Joe Biden; one Chris Dodd; one Hillary Rodham Clinton; one Mike Huckabee; a spot for Edwards paid for by the Alliance for a New America, a 527 third party organization run by a former Edwards campaign manager, followed by an ad featuring Elizabeth Edwards funded by the campaign.
The Obama campaign has been sparring with the Edwards camp this past week over the 527 spending. David Axelrod, Obama’s chief strategist, estimates that the 527 spending for Edwards in the closing days of the campaign could total $750,000. The money behind this Alliance group comes from pro-Edwards Service Employee International locals.
This Alliance spot, which started today, is blunt and follows on Edwards message that he is a fighter. Here’s an excerpt..”…Health care in crisis; Government run by corporate lobbyists; Isn’t it time someone had a plan to take them on?” The ad goes on to detail the “Edwards plan” that would — among other things — “Ban campaign cash from lobbyists; End tax breaks for Big Oil; Stop job-killing trade deals; Stand up to insurance companies for real health reform.”
At the ad’s end, the narrator says to “Ask all the candidates” where they stand.
With just a few days to go before the caucus on Jan. 3, the Republican and Democratic race is up for grabs and is being fought on the air, ground, internet and in mailboxes.
The ad buys in these final days is increasing and demonstrates why Iowans see this election through a different lens in part because they see a lot of commercials even if they dont attend of the tons of events for candidates.
