Friday, September 29, 2000
Tab in Ohio's ad wars: $10.6M
Swing state 2nd only to Pa. in totals since June 1
By Howard Wilkinson
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Campaigns on behalf of presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush have spent $10.6 million since June 1 on television commercials in Ohio, a testament to the importance of the state and its 21 electoral votes.
Nearly two-thirds of the money spent on presidential campaign ads in Ohio has been unregulated “soft money” spent by the Republican and Democratic parties and a host of special interest groups.
|
SPENDING IN OHIO
|
Findings by the Brennan Center for Justice and the University of Wisconsin on TV ad spending in Ohio from June 1-Sept. 20:
• Spending on ads for George W. Bush and Al Gore total $10.6 million.
• Nearly two-thirds of the money has come from Republican and Democratic parties and special interest groups.
• Spending for Mr. Gore totaled $5.4 million; that for for Mr. Bush, $5.2 million.
• Between Sept. 13-20, spending for Mr. Gore was $558,000 and $536,000 for Mr. Bush.
|
That is similar to spending patterns in the rest of the country, according to a new survey of presidential campaign spending by the Brennan Center for Justice and the University of Wisconsin.
The spending in Ohio — surpassed only by $14.1 million in Pennsylvania — reflects the closeness of the race in the state. A recent Ohio Poll shows Mr. Bush with a slight lead in Ohio.
The center's survey found that spending on behalf of the two candidates in Ohio was about evenly split — $5.4 million for Mr. Gore and $5.2 million for Mr. Bush since June 1.
Much of the money spent by party organizations was on “attack” ads that attempt to tarnish the opposition candidate on issues or on character.
“What is happening is that the candidates are letting the parties do the dirty work,” said E. Joshua Rosenkranz, president of the Brennan Center, a New York research center that specializes in campaign finance issues.
From June 1 through Sept. 20, the Bush campaign had spent $13 million on TV advertising, while the Gore campaign had spent $8 million.
But the political parties spent considerably more in the same period — $24.6 million by the Republicans and $27.5 million by the Demo crats.
Mr. Bush received little help from outside groups over that period — only $334,505 in special interest group spending, most of it by the National Rifle Association.
Mr. Gore, on the other hand, has had considerable help from special interest groups — about $3.6 million from a variety of organizations, including the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club and Handgun Control Inc. All those groups are running ads in Ohio and other key states criticizing Mr. Bush's record as Texas governor.
The spending by the political parties has allowed the Bush and Gore campaigns to barely dip into the $68 million in public campaign financing that each candidate was given for the general election campaign.
To get that public financing, the candidates' campaigns have to stop raising funds. But the candidates can and do continue to help the parties raise millions in “soft money.”
Mr. Bush did it last month when he came to Cincinnati for a multi-million dollar fund-raising event for the Republican party in Indian Hill.
Mr. Gore, after campaigning in Middletown and Cincinnati two weeks ago, took off for the east coast and several days of Democratic party fund-raising, including an entertainment industry bash at New York's Radio City Music Hall.
“By taking that public money, the candidates are basically telling taxpayers we don't have to go out and raise money from the special interests because you, the taxpayers, have already given it to us,” Mr. Rosenkranz said. “But they go out and raise money anyway for the parties.”
With much of the party money going to negative “attack” ads, the political parties are able to “tear down the other guy and allow their candidate to say he didn't have anything to do with it,” said Judith Trent, a political communications professor at the University of Cincinnati.
“The parties are just providing cover,” Ms. Trent said.
While the Bush campaign has spent more of its money on TV advertising than the Gore campaign, the Gore campaign leads in total spending, with $39.1 million to $37.9 million for Mr. Bush.
The difference is the special interest group spending on ads attacking Mr. Bush.
Handgun Control began airing one in the Cleveland TV market this week featuring actor Martin Sheen — who plays President Bartlett on NBC's The West Wing — criticizing Mr. Bush's record as Texas governor on gun control.
“The only reason Gore and Bush are running even in the ad wars is that the independent groups have been pouring money into attacking Bush and Bush's supporters haven't done much,” Mr. Rosenkranz said. “But this is a long way from over yet.”
Decision is unlikely to change many minds
Drug has potential to help women with other ailments
Questions, answers about the abortion pill
RU-486 not the only abortion-pill option
Abortion survey respondents favor Bush
Time to pass torch, NAACP leader says
10-digit numbers become norm
Columbus' Nina sails again, with bit of help from engine
One probation unit wins praise
Plenty of parking to open downtown
Tab in Ohio's ad wars: $10.6M
Uninsured increase in Ohio, drop nationwide
Covington schools' scores among lowest
Gains on tests to pay off for N.Ky. schools
N.Ky. schools' dropout rate among lowest in state
:Don't go nuts over finicky squirrels
Jewish children hear the call
Theater review
:'Tow Man' pulls others out of their bad days
Bush has friends in N.Ky.
Chemistry program seeks big reaction
City will honor Anderson on visit
County rivals spar on radio
Hamilton mayor plans open-door office hours
Head of NKU rewarded with raise, praise
Kings links with home computer
Man posts bond in fatal fight case
Neighbors decry house as 'nuisance'
Teacher pleads not guilty to sex charges
Vets to get Grant Co. cemetery
Kentucky News Briefs
Get to it
Pig Parade: Hammibal Crossing the Rhine
Tristate A.M. Report
