Bush Campaign Plans Break in Its Television Commercials

[Freddie Stubbs]

By JIM RUTENBERG

Published: June 17, 2004


WASHINGTON, June 16 - President Bush's campaign said Wednesday that it would stop running commercials for several days starting next week, the first significant halt in his advertising campaign since it began on March 4.

The pause would seem to bring to a close Mr. Bush's springtime strategy of broadcasting a relentless and precisely planned set of commercials. They were devised to send voters into the summer vacation season with the perception that Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, was a high-taxing, flip-flopping liberal who was weak on defense.

Both campaigns have been fiercely debating whether Mr. Bush, who has spent $80 million on advertising, has gotten everything he paid for. Democrats say Mr. Kerry's strong standing in several polls shows the strategy has failed. Republicans say the number of voters who tell pollsters they have questions about Mr. Kerry's core convictions shows it succeeded.

In Mr. Bush's latest advertisement, an announcer ticks off the president's economic accomplishments and criticizes Mr. Kerry as pessimistic. Advisers to Mr. Bush said the commercial would stop running on network television stations in the 19 states where he has primarily been advertising starting Sunday. They said the commercial would continue to run on cable channels through June 24.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/17/politics/17ads.html

[trogdor]

1. $80 million to stay in the same spot as before.

Incredible, and might I say, "what a maroon!"

No matter how they spin it, it proves Bush is astoundingly weak.

[VolcanoJen]

2. Wow... talk about Cut-n-Run!

$80-100 million later, and they still can't buy a point in a national poll.

It must be kind of embarrassing, and I also have the feeling that Karl Rove has never tasted this kind of defeat before. Well, it's about time he did.

I'm not looking forward to the Second Act, by the way... but as one who lives in a battleground state, I'm going to enjoy the break from watching Chimpy smirk his way through begging me for my vote. :D

[gWbush is Mabus]

3. they don't need TV they have churches to dispense propaganda

TAX the CHURCHES!!!