Ron Paul 5,215 ads $2.8M

[Bradley in DC]

[So what, exactly, is the campaign doing with our contributions?]

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2008/02/107m_spent_on_p.html#more

$107M Spent On Prez Ads To Date

The University of Wisconsin's Advertising Project has discovered that almost all of the $107M spent by the presidential candidates went to early state television spots. Almost none of it went to Super Tuesday states.

Democrats and Republicans aired have aired about 150K ads to date. Dems Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton "spent somewhat similarly," according to a UW project release. But Mitt Romney spent as much as all of his opponents combined -- and almost four times that of rival John McCain in Florida.

Through last Sunday, Dems have aired 83,320 ads total; Republicans broadcast 67,798. The Dems spent $57M, the GOP $50M. Romney accounted for 35,000 of the GOP spots.

Republican ads mused on taxes, defense, abortion and immigration. The Dems, in contrast, all led with health care, followed by economic issues, such as housing, poverty and jobs. All told, about 90% of ads were positive, 10% were negative.

Third party groups aired 5K ads this cycle.

The Dems:

HRC
25,562 ads $18.7M
Obama
29,866 ads $22.7M
John Edwards
14,732 ads $8.3M

The GOP:

Romney
34,821 ads $29M
John McCain
10,830 ads $8M
Rudy Giuliani
6,856 ads $5.6M
Mike Huckabee
5,831 ads $2.6M
Ron Paul
5,215 ads $2.8M

More analysis after the jump ...

(JENNIFER SKALKA)

Total Presidential Ad Spending By State:

Iowa
$43M
New Hampshire
$32M
South Carolina
$13M
Florida
$10M
Michigan
$4M
Nevada
$2.5M

The Change Factor
37% of all Obama ads mentioned the word 'change' while none used the word 'experience. Clinton, meanwhile, used 'experience' in 30% of her spots; 27% mentioned change. More than 29% of Romney's ads mentioned the word 'change.'

Change was the most popular buzzword, but the American flag was the most frequent image. McCain "wrapped himself in the flag" more than any other leading candidate, 77% of his spots included the Stars and Bars, while 65% of Giuliani's ads and 44% of Romney's ads featured the patriotic image. Among the Dems, Edwards led the patriotic drumbeat, using the flag 49% of the time, compared with 40% for Obama and 33% for Clinton.

The Wisconsin Advertising Project is funded this year by a grant from the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation.

 

[ddoggphx]

Through LAST SUNDAY.

They are banging ads in Super Tuesday states. I've seen and heard ads this week in AZ. I bet other, more competitive states are getting a lot of Ron Paul. This is McWar country here, and I'm surprised he's even spending money here.

 

[athlon64bit]

Where has ron paul's money went to then? He has spent 10 million or so dollars. Where did the other 7 or 8 million dollars go to?

 

[rezster]

Where has ron paul's money went to then? He has spent 10 million or so dollars. Where did the other 7 or 8 million dollars go to?

RP spent over 17 million in Q4, the Huckster spent a little over 5 million. Let's assume each spent 3 million to organize and run their campaigns. We know each spent about 2.5-3 million in advertising.Where did the RP campaign spend the other 12 million????????????????????????? It obviously didn't go to advertising for Super Tuesday, anyone have an idea?

 

[Agent CSL]

The other money probably went to travel expenses and opening official HQs around the country. I don't know if all those HQs were necessary... But we'll see.

 

[ambiguousscion]

I believe you have to buy blocks of advertising "up front" with down payment, so it is possible that is the advertising that is currently happening in Super Tuesday states was paid for last month

 

[rich34]

I've long thought that the reason he's opening all these headquarters is because he's building the foundation for an independent run. Maybe not who knows?

 

[RonRules]

The other money probably went to travel expenses and opening official HQs around the country. I don't know if all those HQs were necessary... But we'll see.

There were a lot of mail outs (12 page brochure) and an ENORMOUS amount of signs and campaign literature printed.

I do agree there is no need for all these HQ's, considering there's 1600 meetup groups. Why not use those. There is no need for a permanent presence, with rent and full time staff, except in about a dozen large cities.

 

[The00viper]

Here's the campaign's spending from last quarter...

http://query.nictusa.com/pres/2007/YE/C00432914/B_PURPOSE_C00432914.html

Gives you an idea of where the money is going.

 

[NOLA]

3 million for radio ads!!!! Why not spend that on television ads instead in the early primary states?

 

[Johncjackson]

There is a pretty long thread here on these forums where a poster broke down every single category of expense including what firms where paid and gave opinions.

 

[WRellim]

Where has ron paul's money went to then? He has spent 10 million or so dollars. Where did the other 7 or 8 million dollars go to?

See a pretty thorough analysis in the Hot Topics under the following thread:
Where $17M went in the 4th Qtr

Jeepers what a sad place Univ of Wisc is... they needed grant funding to produce THAT analysis? Ridiculous.

 

[Spirit of '76]

3 million for radio ads!!!! Why not spend that on television ads instead in the early primary states?

People who listen to talk radio tend to be the most politically-active segment of society.

My dad told me the other day he heard a Ron Paul ad during the Rush Limbaugh show here in WV.

 

[jsu718]

The radio ads that I have heard have been pretty good

 

[mdmarino]

Pretty heavy rotation of radio ads on conservative talk radio here in Nashville TN. During the prime morning and evening drive times too. His were the only ones I heard this week. Most of us are stuck in our cars for at least 30 minutes/day during the commute, so I see it as a good investment.

 

[kipload]

I still believe we are moving up

I have the feeling whatever was spent on advertisements is what we are hearing on the radios now. The direct mail was expensive, and necessary. Remember we're basically building a party. We get minimal support from the GOP so we have to all of the name-recognition, and social-networking ourselves. It may be slow but I still believe we are moving up.

 

[The Good Doctor]

My co-worker was listening to a MN radio station in WI and heard a Ron Paul ad. He told me about it because he knows I am hardcore for Ron Paul. So is his 2nd amendment crazed brother. He bought a huge automatic machine gun. 50 caliber IIRC. Why? Just because. LOL.

 

[Cigaboo]

3 million for radio ads!!!! Why not spend that on television ads instead in the early primary states?

Doesn't sound effective on the surface. But surprisingly it was a radio ad that finally tipped my mother's hand to vote for him.

 

[Brainsnake]

I believe the rest of the unaccounted money went towards pre-paying for his basic campaign so he can focus all future money on ads, and will be guaranteed to have a fully funded campaign for the extent of the primaries, even if the donations stop.

 

[Leroy_Jenkems]

I've long thought that the reason he's opening all these headquarters is because he's building the foundation for an independent run. Maybe not who knows?

I'd like to think that, too.