GOP halts ads in Wisconsin, Maine - to focus on traditionally red states

[Liberal_in_LA]

GOP halts ads in Wisconsin, Maine
Party to focus on traditionally red states like Colorado, Missouri and Indiana

Associated Press
October 16, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Republican National Committee is halting presidential ads in Wisconsin and Maine, turning much of its attention to usually Republican states where GOP nominee John McCain shows signs of faltering.

The party's independent ad operation is doubling its budget to about $10 million and focusing on crucial states such as Colorado, Missouri, Indiana and Virginia, where Democrat Barack Obama has established a foothold, according to a Republican strategist familiar with presidential ad placements.

Florida and North Carolina have also been in the committee's ad mix. Pennsylvania is the only Democratic-leaning swing state apparently left in the party's ad campaign.

The shift in advertising resources suggests that the committee has decided to focus on defending reliably Republican-voting states against Obama's onslaught of advertising. Flush with money, Obama is outspending the joint efforts of the Republican Party and the McCain campaign by more than 2-to-1.

While a pullout from Wisconsin is a significant strategic move, it does not represent a full GOP retreat from the state. McCain's campaign has notified Wisconsin stations that it planned to continue to buy air time through Oct. 26.


http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.campaign16oct16,0,5331563.story

[dchill]

1. They've stopped measuring for drapes...

because the foundation is cracking.

[caledesi]

2. Good one! NT

[Schulzz]

3. Giving up Maine means they don't have any hope for NH either.

Maine's EV is only important in a tie. And the only chance for a tie has been Obama taking CO, NM and IA and McCain flipping NH. I know that NH is safe anyway, but it's good to see that they have lost another strategy to win.

[4lbs]

4. Wow.

"Flush with money, Obama is outspending the joint efforts of the Republican Party and the McCain campaign by more than 2-to-1."



Obama Campaign and millions of donors each giving $50 to $200 multiple times >> RNC's fat cat donors + McCain Campaign's FEC funds.