Are voters REALLY SEEING all those campaign ads?

[hlthe2b]

I'm in Colorado and I am aware that we are being blanketed--literally inundated with them right now. But I would say vaguely aware because I mute every single ad on the rare occasion I have the tv on. i watch little "live" tv, so that affords me the opportunity to miss nearly all of them on playback. If I'm watching a pundit on MSNBC, I might watch what they are presenting in discussion, but I'm only going to go find and view the ad if I think it is a highly effective Obama ad.

I really wonder if (at least for those younger than about 70 and those older that are technologically adept) aren't following suit?

Is this really the answer to Citizen's United (at least in the interim)? Just let them waste their money?


Oh, and I use only a cell phone and screen all numbers I don't recognize, so I'm not getting campaign calls.

[Spazito]

1. Interesting question...

I DVR a lot of programs so I can watch them at my convenience and when I do watch them I Fast Forward past the ads. I am betting many, many viewers with the DVR option do the same and, if so, the ads have much less influence than they once had, imo.

[russspeakeasy]

2. I'm in Floriaduh, over 70 and do the same thing.

That is, when i can find my remote and can remember what the mute button is for.

[nanabugg]

3. Same here. I don't even watch the Dem ads anymore...I think it is a bad move to run the same

ad over and over again. The strategy should be to run really at least 8 different ads at different time each day so that the ad sounds like something new to those who watch at the same time each day. For example, before the six PM network news a different ad each day and so on with each time slot. Some people watch one or two programs and then go to bed. If the ads are different each day or each cycle they will get to see all the different ads and not hear the same shit all the time before or after their favorite program.

[yewberry]

4. I think it really depends on where you live.

I live in WA, and I rarely see any television or print ads. No phone calls, either. Not one.

My dad lives in NH, a swing state, and he's completely inundated with them.

[hlthe2b]

7. yes... but does he WATCH them? I too am inundated, yet I've seen hardly any--by intent

[yewberry]

19. Not really-- he's not an undecided voter.

It makes him too mad to watch the Romney stuff so he switches it off.

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Interesting question - and quite valid

I'm in NJ - so not a presidential battleground - but the senate?

All I 'see' on MSNBC during primetime are ads for some guy name Kyrillos or something running against Bob Menendez. His wife is speaking gibberish - and I normally go get a drink of water when it comes on. I just don't think people are paying attention.

[onehandle]

6. We watch Hulu and Rmoney ads are plenty, Obama ads less so. nt

[MissMillie]

8. swing states mostly

I'm not in a swing state. We're not seeing a lot of ads for the Presidential election.

The stuff I'm seeing is about the Brown/Warren race for Senate.

[hlthe2b]

9. But, with respect to the Brown/Warren saturation ads.. Do you think people are really watching them?

Or is it background noise or, like commercials easily avoided/ignored?

[MissMillie]

14. I think people are watching them.... at least the undecideds

I think that a lot of moderates voted for Brown and are now second-guessing that choice.

[hlthe2b]

17. re: "I think that a lot of moderates voted for Brown and are now second-guessing that choice."

That's good news.

[rox63]

10. We do get some of the presidential ads aimed at NH

Much of southern NH falls within the Boston TV market. But we are getting a lot more of the Brown/Warren ads.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

11. I'm in Nevada - Las Vegas metro and yes

plenty of ads from both sides and their PACs, with a few more pro-Obama than not. "Inundated" is a misunderstatement.

[JenniferJuniper]

12. DVRs....

My parents are in their 70's and they DVR anything they want to watch so they can skip over all commercials.

If even elderly people have figured out how to avoid commercials, I can't imagine this isn't going on all over the country. TV ain't want it used to be for campaign ads.

[Scuba]

15. Bingo. TV advertising will not have the effect it had a decade ago.

[Brother Buzz]

13. There's a dearth of campaign ads in California

I expect to see the local congressional races and wedge issue proposition ads to start hitting airwaves in the near future.

[hughee99]

16. In MA, I haven't noticed commercials for Obama or Rmoney.

I can't imagine why either of them would spend any money in this state, though, unless it was to help other candidates (Warren).

[nc4bo]

18. One NCer here - I know they're pounding the airwaves because I watch local news in the am/pm

there are many cable stations that don't seem to be participating in the avalanche of political ads (AMC, TCM, etc) and over the air WRAL's MeTV).

My family is making it a point not to linger on stations showing them, hope others do the same. Any shows we miss, we can catch up on in reruns or via the internet.

Let the likes of Koch Bros., & Co. waste all their million$ on an absentee audience.