Bush, Airing Ads, Spent Record $49.6 Mln in March

[swag]

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=akL6Ncop31VE&refer=us

April 20 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush spent a record $49.6 million in March, the most paid out in one month by any presidential campaign, as it spent at least $40 million on media advertisements.

Bush, 57, raised $26.3 million in March, less than the $38 million raised by Democratic rival Massachusetts Senator John Kerry that month, according to Kerry campaign and FEC filings. Bush had $86.6 million in cash at the end of March, down from $110 million at the end of February, the FEC figures show.

The Bush campaign began airing ads nationwide last month portraying the president as a strong leader and Kerry as weak on national security issues and inconsistent in his voting record. Kerry, 60, became the presumptive Democratic nominee after the March 2 primaries when his last main rival, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, dropped out.

Bush raised a record $185.7 million through the end of March after beginning fund-raising in May last year, the FEC figures show. His campaign had a goal of raising $170 million. The average contribution in March was $92, less than the $165 overall average, according to a Bush campaign press release.

. . .

[Beetwasher]

1. $49 Mill and he's still basically tied w/ Kerry

I like it!

[BostonTeaParty04]

2. $50 million? And he got nothing out of it.....

Hilarious that he would put as a caboose to all that spending a NOTORIOUSLY horrid press conference........

[displacedtexan]

3. I fear Bush* ad buying on CNN and MSNBC may be working.

Never mind local market ad buying. Bush* ads on CNN and MSNBC every hour could be making a difference in the polls.

How many of us thought the "Can you hear me now?" ads were stupid and pointless when they first began airing? Now, we're so used to them that we don't think about how stupid they used to sound to us. The same can be said of the annoying "Lost another loan to Ditech" ads. Until recently, I muted the sound when those aired. Now, I'm used to them.

The constant repetition of memes eventually becomes truth to the masses: Bush* negative Kerry ads (which are not truthful, BTW) could be causing the current polling upticks for Bush*.

[htuttle]

4. Here's a tip on that

NOBODY really watches much CNN or MSNBC. I used to worry about their coverage, since I used to watch them all the time. I began to realize, however, that most people don't sit in front of cable news for hours at a time. The ones that do, generally already have their minds made up already as far as their politics goes.

Maybe 500,000 watch cable news channels for their news. Something like 10-15 million watch broadcast network news, however.

Cable news' influence is overblown and overpromoted -- primarily by cable news channels themselves.

[NJmaverick]

5. THis might explain bush's rise in the polls

This kind of obscene money buys a whole lot of air time.

[Occulus]

6. But look at the numbers

Bush has lost a LOT of money from his campaign chest, and received little gain from the ads in return. The only Bush ads I've seen- and I've only seen (wait for it) TWO bush ads this year- and they were negative attack ads. Those have started early, and people don't like to hear negative attacks throughout the campaign.

He started with over $100 million, spent over $50 million, and still raised less than Kerry did in a one month period. This is very good news; people can't contribute forever, and as Bush's political contributors send in their only political dollars they will send, secure in their belief that Kerry will not be elected, the number of people remaining that will contribute to Bush will dwindle.

Kerry supporters, meanwhile, are letting Bush hang himself. We're not sending as much as we could send because our dollars are somewhat more limited; however, when we do contribute, it will be as a tidal wave of support, because by the time the "right time" to contribute arrives, the Bush campaign chest will be even more depleted than it is now, their ads will have turned off voters, and the Kerry campaign will have two or three months of easier opposition in the media as the Bush campaign slowly ramps down its spending for their final pre-election 'ad blitz.' in the meantime, the Kerry campaign will have left voters with a strong image of a good presidential candidate.

Kerry is no political novice. So far, he's been doing as I've said- letting Bush hang himself. Kerry hasn't advertised in my area (SW Mich) that I've seen, and still the Bush numbers are far lower than any wartime President facing reelection would ever be comfortable with.

The Kerry campaign is only waiting for the right time to strike, and when they do, you will see the Bush numbers slowly slide down further and further until October, when I expect his approval numbers to be somewhere in the mid-to-high 30's (so long as Kerry picks the right time and message).

Pass the popcorn! It's going to be an entertaining show, regardless- but we still must win.

[calimary]

7. I hope you're correct.

I'm rather on-edge about it all, myself. Won't be getting much sleep for awhile...

[NJmaverick]

8. I hope so too

When you consider all rotten things that have been revealed about bush and his regime, Kerry should be leading in a rout, not trailing. Seems to me that Kerry needs to do more to define himself and shake the negative imagine created by bush, and the right wing talking heads.

[RamboLiberal]

13. Good analysis - a lot of Bush supporters have maxed their limit

Hell if you look up contributions you see Bush supporters contributed $2,000 chunks in their name, their spouses name, their kids names, probably even in their dogs and cats names. A lot of them have maxed out. Whereas a lot of us poor peons out here have not even neared our limit.

Myself, I'm giving a contribution every pay. I can't afford a lot, but if Kerry needs money I'm willing to dig deeper.

[On the Road]

9. Bush is Spinning His Wheels

and Kerry hasn't even tapped his war chest yet. If this is the worst they can do with $50M, Kerry will have an easier time than I thought.

The only worry is that Kerry will form a negative image too early that may be difficult to overcome. But if so, it hasn't shown up yet.

[mobuto]

10. Worse news for Bush

So far this year, Dem groups have outraised Republican groups 2:1.

Their warchest is sinking; ours is rapidly expanding.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x498982

[yelladawg]

11. I love the part

where he spent $50,000,000 and got nothing in return.

[mccormack98]

12. Bush's slight rise has more to do with ...

... the end of the democratic race than it does Bush's advertising. Kerry will get a nice bounce from the Dem Convention.

Also, these are *national* polls that we are talking about. In the 18 battleground states, the Bush advertising blitz has been countered by advertising by Kerry, Moveon, and other anti-Bush forces.

Bill

[Snazzy]

15. The public financing kicks in after the convention

Each gets about $75 million, and is then limited to spending that.

Since Bush* shows up to despoil NYC a month after the Dem convention, * has an extra month of unrestrained spending.

So actually, the most important fundrasing period for Kerry is right about now.

[Catt03]

14. And he made 3.5 million at a fundraiser lunch today

That does not include the 26.2 million for the month of March.

3.5 million at lunch! And.................

Our troops do not have protective gear
The Humvees need re fitted because troops are not protected
The Va hospitals are closing
School teachers are buying their own supplies
Millions of children and adults have no health insurance
Bankruptcies are at a all time high
The elderly don't eat so they can buy prescription drugs

Hope they enjoyed their Waldorf salads and mints.

[Snazzy]

16. Bush* finance from FEC for March

Cash Start
$110,046,333

Cash End
$86,638,901

Contributions
$26,194,809

Contributions to date
$184,435,466

Disbursements
$49,673,371

Disbursements to date
$99,041,872

Debt
$125,628

---

They don't have Kerry yet.

(I was just compiling this for the website we are just about launching, http://twomealsout.com )

[truthisfreedom]

17. tuned out, turned off audience

his messages are incredibly stupid and boring, and they do nothing but inflame the left.

[DemosthenesOfTheWest]

18. And what did it get him?

A barely statically significant lead of Kerry at a time when he should be leading by 10% or 20%! Bush is in big trouble.