Super Bowl Ad Buys: Any 527s Plunk Down for Tsunami Tuesday/Mardis Gras?

[CorpGovActivist]

http://www.nfl.com/superbowl">The Super Bowl will be broadcast next Sunday, with many swing state voters tuned in to watch the big game.

Last night marked the http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=january+26+1992+super+bowl+clintons">anniversary of another Super Bowl (in the midst of NH, 1992, the 60 Minutes interview was almost as highly-rated as the game that year). Yestereday also marked http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=january+26+1998+clintons">the anniversary of a joint appearance by the current frontrunner and her spouse, in 1998.

A http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&um=1&tab=wn&q=super+bowl+ads">30-second spot this year is reported to cost $2.7 million.

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&um=1&tab=wn&q=mardis+gras+february+5">The collision of the front-loaded political calendar, the end of the football season, and the partying in Mardis Gras has been on master strategists' radar for quite some time.

Here's a prediction: we'll see a new and unusual use of that astronomical alignment one week from today.

- Dave

[Herman Munster]

1. Political Ads are not allowed in the Super Bowl if I remember correctly

[CorpGovActivist]

2. Campaigning in Florida Isn't Either...

... if I remember correctly.

; )

- Dave

[MonkeyFunk]

9. good thing nobody's campaigning there, then.

although Obama is running ads.

[CorpGovActivist]

11. Indeed!

[CorpGovActivist]

16. .

[Yael]

3. Fox Sports has said they will not allow political ads during the game

[CorpGovActivist]

4. Parse Their Statement...

... like you're the White House Counsel.

- Dave

[Yael]

5. Here is a quick Google on "fox sports political ads superbowl"

No responsibility for the sites -- I just grabbed the first 2 that were returned:

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/01/27/fox-no-political-ads-during-super-bowl/

http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=54210

[CorpGovActivist]

6. Here's a Scenario...

... that you might consider:

1. The http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&q=fec+vacancy">FEC is largely deadlocked/shuttered at the Commissioner level.

2. The http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&tab=wn&q=fcc+powell">FCC is capable of foot-dragging with the best of them, and could conceivably punt until the day after the GE.

3. A company with a very active political agenda advertises a service or product with a gut-bustingly funny ad, driving unprecedented web traffic to see the finish.

4. The product or service's newly-launched site prominently mentions that every sale will include a donation to <fill in the blank> organization. <Fill in the blank> organization reaps a marketing blitz that is indirect, without technically violating the guidelines FOX established.

You're the FEC Commission or the FCC Commission appointed by Bush.

Or, you're the affected candidate(s)' inner circle of legal counsel.

Now what?

- Dave

[lurky]

8. Would a business risk publicly endorsing a candidate?

That could be very dangerous.

[CorpGovActivist]

10. A Nod's As Good As a Wink...

... to a blind horse.

Remember the ground-breaking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8">1984 ad launching Apple's Mac? Super Bowl, 1984.

Apropos of nothing, I worked for the co-creator of that ad. She's brilliant.

- Dave

[lurky]

13. I seeeeee.... (gears turning)

So if say, iTunes (just for example) were to have a cool ad that brought people to their website...

And the website prominently featured some really cool free video download from one of the more youth-oriented candidates (whoever that might be :))...

That would allow the company to endorse without endorsing and the candidate to get promoted by the Superbowl.

Verrrry Cleverrrr!

[CorpGovActivist]

14. Live by the Parsing Technicality...

:P

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

15. Cosmic Coincidence: Louisiana Next after Tsunami Tuesday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_%28United_States%29_presidential_primaries%2C_2008#Phase_four:_The_rest_of_the_race">After Tsunami Tuesday, it's Louisiana, too!

The timing on this is - one enormous coincidence.

The Beltway Trimary is the week after; I'd imagine there will be some good coverage hereabouts.

- Dave

[brooklynite]

7. Fox Won’t Sell Super Bowl Ads to Candidates

There may be ads for beer, cars and computers on the Super Bowl, but there won’t be any for presidential candidates.

Fox has put an end to speculation that one or more of the presidential candidates might use the highest-rated TV broadcast of the year to air a national campaign spot two days before more than 20 states hold presidential primary and caucus votes.

While no candidate has yet requested time, the network has declared it won’t sell Super Bowl spots to their campaigns.

The reasons: The show is sold out and equal opportunities couldn’t be provided to all candidates, even if some additional time could be found for one to buy in.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/01/fox_wont_sell_super_bowl_ads_t.php

[CorpGovActivist]

12. Every Word...

... technically true, technically accurate.

Not an "is" out of place, most likely.

- Dave