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Beijing Olympics: Brought to You By Barack Obama

The Obama campaign has made a $5 million dollar ad buy during NBC’s coverage of the Beijing Olympics that start on August 8, 2008.

Via Advertising Age:

It’s official. Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign will be among the TV sponsors of NBC Universal’s Olympics coverage. In the first significant network-TV buy of any presidential candidate in at least 16 years, the Obama campaign has taken a $5 million package of Olympics spots that includes network TV as well as cable ads. According to NBC’s political file, the campaign had initially requested information about 500,000, $2 million and $4 million package of Olympics spots. The network also offered the candidate a $10 million package.

Most dayparts
NBC Universal is airing 3,600 hours of Olympics coverage on its broadcast network and cable networks including NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Oxygen and Telemundo, and while some of the Obama campaign’s spots will air on network TV, the breakdown of how many or exactly when they will air was not immediately available. It did encompass most dayparts.

The Obama campaign did not return several calls and messages seeking comment on the reasoning behind the buy.

The Obama campaign will join major advertisers including McDonald’s and Anheuser-Busch. The Beijing games begin with opening ceremonies Aug. 8.

While Rudy Giuliani’s campaign did a tiny buy to air political ads on “Fox News Sunday” in consecutive weeks, the Obama campaign’s spending on the high-rated and expensive Olympics top anything that has been done on network TV by presidential candidates in years.

Bob Dole’s 1996 buy
The last network TV spot bought by a presidential contender was apparently a single multi-minute ad run by Republican Sen. Bob Dole in 1996.

Presidential candidates have mostly used their advertising to target battleground states, turning to cheaper cable buys when they sought national scope.

Obama campaign officials have said before that, in addition to swing-state buys, they were looking at the possibility of doing national advertising and were looking at a variety of options including cable channels such as MTV and BET and potentially the Olympics.

The buy comes as the Obama campaign continues to set fundraising records. Its decision not to accept federal matching money leaves it able to spend as much money as it can raise. The campaign reported it raised $52 million in June, compared with the nearly $21.5 million raised by his challenger, Sen. John McCain.

From my blog, By The Fault.

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Comment by Urban Hillbilly | 2008-07-25 12:14:26

It’s not the first time I’ve said it, but thank God for TiVO!

Comment by WildChild | 2008-07-25 12:16:52

You can say that again. I haven’t watched a commercial in years

Comment by alexei | 2008-07-25 12:34:08

I watch the funny ones.

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 14:09:20

Try checking out Youtube, they have a stack of banned commericials from all over the world. They make me laugh. Some are a bit naughty, so a sense of humour is required.

 
 
 

Comment by ellen | 2008-07-25 17:45:13

This campaign has raised more money than any other - so why wouldn’t they put ads on tv during the highly watched olympics period??? smart. remember hillary had to lend her campaign big $ JUST TO PAY FOR AN AD ON TV. SHE HAD MORE ADS THAN OBAMA DID…

Comment by candymarl | 2008-07-25 20:16:55

Money from Corporate America. But guess that’s now okay with liberals/progressives.

 

Comment by Mirlo | 2008-07-26 08:59:36

yeah, reminds me of Julius Caesar, when he had his gladiators and inbetween fead live Christans to the lions.
His doctrine: You have to give the people bread and games.

Comment by Hope Floats | 2008-07-26 11:15:12

“Two things only the people actually desire: bread and circuses.” Juvenal

 
 

Comment by Shtuey | 2008-07-26 10:49:16

Maybe because the Obama campaign would want to stand in opposition to the continued Chinese repression and persecution of the Tibetan people. But the holey one obviously cares more about getting noticed than he does about the Tibetan people. Good show Pampers. Yet another contrast with Hillary.

When the Tibetan uprising occurred Hillary stood in solidarity with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people. Obama said nothing. He probably couldn’t find Tibet on a globe without Axelrod telling him what a globe was.

On the other side of the coin, John McCain met with the Dalai Lama yesterday. I don’t think McCain will be advertising on Tibetans backs.

I will be boycotting viewing the Games this year as a show of support for the people of Tibet. Now I have a second reason for doing so. I hope others will join me.

Obama will say anything and do anything to get elected. He is a narcissistic cretin with a delusional messiah complex. McCain may not stand for all I believe in, but at least he cares about being a public servant. Obama only cares about himself.

 
 

Comment by mahaska | 2008-07-25 17:54:47

Does tivo still remove ads? Or how does that work? I want one if it does.

 
 

Comment by Lin | 2008-07-25 12:19:39

It feels like a new car or detergent has been launched and a corporate marketing department has gone into overdrive, saturating the public. I, for one, am sick to death of product-Obama; I would never buy *Obama* (even if he came with a discount coupon).

Comment by Susan | 2008-07-25 12:41:06

Well, he is the candidate with the logo. He’ll fit right in - between the McDonalds and Budweiser comercials.

Comment by steven Mather | 2008-07-25 12:52:17

The Obama campaign necessarily must “sell” their candidate because he is an unproven commodity in the nation’s eye. For this reason, the Obama campaign dresses Obama in the trappings of a bona fide, “battle-tested” presidential candidate.

Because we do not have experiences of Obama earning his presidential chops, the Obama campaign does what it can to give him the appearance of having chops. Further, they do all they can to reduce his exposure to unscripted and challenging circumstances because these circumstances are most likely to expose his lack of experience.

 

Comment by Patti | 2008-07-25 14:44:18

he’s just buying $5,000,000 cheers for himself. Teenagers cannot vote and he has his base.

he needs it for himself. It’s an early Christmas present for the girls.

 

Comment by mahaska | 2008-07-25 17:56:10

Budweiser, a good Belgian beer.

 
 
 

Comment by SJ | 2008-07-25 12:19:58

Even Fox is getting disgusting now with this Obama crap,am so sick of all this dam coverage why even bother with this election any more, they should just let Obama take up residence at the WH now and get this done and over with.

Comment by AnninCa | 2008-07-25 13:03:08

Not so fast. Non-stop coverage has resulted in a slight bump in Gallup today. Slight is the word.

The public isn’t too impressed, apparently.

I doubt they will be impressed by the Olympics ad, either.

The truth is that the public has said exactly the truth. He’s inexperienced, unknown, and they don’t have a comfort level. That is the issue for any candidate who chooses to run with no history. He’s reaping the fruits of his own choices.

The public just isn’t sold on Obama.

NM is tight. CO is way tight. McCain pulled ahead there this week in one poll. FL is tight. Ohio is tight, pro-McCain. PA is tight, pro-Obama.

It’s just going to be a very, very tight race.

Obama is having the same problem he had with Hillary. Those middle voters, like me, who aren’t all about paranoia but also aren’t swayed by GQ photo ops……

We’re the swing voters.

And we lean towards tried and true. I know I don’t agree with McCain on everything, but I trust him as a person of his word far more than Obama. Obama has convinced of only one thing. He lies. I see the left excusing that. They lost my respect. He lies, folks.

He just isn’t trustworthy.

I can take disagreeing with my leaders. I’m done with liars. That is what Bush cured me of accepting.

This war is a result of his lying.

Obama is also a liar. I know that by fact now.

I refuse to vote in another liar.

If the public does so, then the public is saying that it’s Ok with them.

Not for me.

No more liars.

Comment by JoseyJ | 2008-07-25 13:19:45

Obama’s Beijing TV ads will consist of HIM dribbling and shooting.
No bowling pics.

Comment by Patti | 2008-07-25 14:54:31

he ever saw a puddle he couldn’t resist to glance in.

Comment by mahaska | 2008-07-25 17:58:02

Ah, Narcissis, lean over just a little farther.

 
 
 

Comment by Patti | 2008-07-25 14:47:18

Ya know after a while too much cotton candy will start to turn the stomach. He’s boring his own base. Yay!
Apparently, he doesn’t know me because as nice as Paris could possibly be, I want to spend time in Eqypt.

 
 

Comment by suthrn | 2008-07-25 13:07:27

i agree!!!! am over this mess…i dont watch the games so therefore i will not see the damn ads

 
 

Comment by ginaswo still says no Uhhbama | 2008-07-25 12:20:04

Uhhbama does a huge ad buy during Bejing Olympics and BIG MAC goes to meet with the Dalai Lama, hmmmmmm

 

Comment by wodiej | 2008-07-25 12:20:53

I don’t watch the Olympics anyway. Obama’s a whore for votes so we should expect no less. Flagrantly throwing money around is just going to make him look worse especially w the economy tanking, people being out of work and scrapping by. So go ahead dipshit and company. Spend, spend, spend. The obots will defend this because they are still mooching off of mommy and daddy.

Comment by NotBrainwashed | 2008-07-25 12:32:29

It seems like I’m the only college age kid who isn’t in love with Obama. And I was looking forward to the Olympics, too. Shit.

Obama will sure look ridiculous in November; even half a billion dollars and endless advertisements cannot buy the votes of those who refuse to sample the koolaid.

PUMA

Comment by wodiej | 2008-07-25 12:33:32

well someone brought you up right apparently.

Comment by scott in jupiter | 2008-07-25 13:19:27

I’m surprised barky hasn’t tried to pass a bill and say is campaign is a stimulus package for the public.

 
 

Comment by Susan | 2008-07-25 12:43:57

You are not alone. My college aged daughter is also too smart to fall for him - along with her classmates. I was very happy that her NH college town went for Hillary!

Comment by N. Lee | 2008-07-25 13:13:07

I also have college aged children (and they are in college) who can’t STAND Nobama.

I also attend college and have to face all the bots in Sept, but will do it proudly with my McCain and Clinton buttons. Screw em..I don’t care. (hope I don’t get mugged on campus!)

Comment by wodiej | 2008-07-25 13:22:34

that’s because you brought them up right, congratulations

 
 

Comment by wodiej | 2008-07-25 13:23:29

congratulatons, another parent who brought their kids up right!

 
 

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:48:30

Can you get any of the BBC channels in America?, because the BBC programmes do not have commercial/adverts in them.

Comment by Northwest rain | 2008-07-25 15:48:42

Those of close to the Canadian border can watch the Olympics from one of the Canadian station.

However, I do not watch tv —

There is a Greek play about Agamemnon — and he returns home after being away at war for a long time. He has Cassandra with him and Agamemnon’s wife prepares the way by laying down carpets for him to walk on.

Remember back then carpets were hand made and extremely valuable — one normally did not toss down carpets to be trod on by anyone.

To the people this must have been an arrogant display of wealth.

To the people of the US — the over use of commercials is an arrogant throwing away of money. We expect to see wise use of fund — but we haven’t seen this with Obama — he is spending very lavishly — he is having handmade rugs laid down in his path — to be spoiled and wasted.

BOBO’s charismatic crap oratory is as old as the Greeks. There is nothing original about BOBO. He is a copy and a fake.

PUMA

 
 

Comment by Patti | 2008-07-25 14:55:46

The Tortoise wins; the Hare loses.

 
 
 

Comment by AnnieO | 2008-07-25 12:37:06

The ads are supposed to have Olympics-related themes. Maybe BO in a Speedo. Yikes! Maybe that’s why he’s speeding so much time in the gym. (he he)

Comment by jwrjr | 2008-07-25 13:18:45

I didn’t know that election-rigging was an Olympic event. Live and learn …

 

Comment by mahaska | 2008-07-25 18:01:47

Oh god, what a visual.

 
 

Comment by Jim S | 2008-07-25 12:38:51

Payback!!
When your entire on-air crew shills for Obama all the time, it’s only fitting that Obambi’s campaign buy some ad space. It’s a good deal for them because they’ve gotten $500 million worth of free coverage from NBC.

Meanwhile, over on MSNBC, Matthew’s and Olberman look like they’ve had an orgasm after saying Obama’s name. Maybe that’s what Matthew’s means when he says Obama makes his legs tingle. I didn’t realize he meant that his 3 legs were all tingly.

Comment by AnnieO | 2008-07-25 12:41:00

This morning, Chris Matthews adopted the “tortoise and hair” analogy that someone had posted on NQ last night

Comment by AnnieO | 2008-07-25 12:42:11

Apparently, he or someone on his staff reads this blog.

Comment by AnnieO | 2008-07-25 12:43:45

I meant “hare.” Sorry for the spelling error.

 
 

Comment by AF catfish | 2008-07-25 12:47:47

Comment by AnnieO | 2008-07-25 12:56:35

Someone wrote on NQ last night that the race between BO and JM was like the story of the tortoise and the hare. Chris Matthews used that analogy this morning.

 
 
 

Comment by wodiej | 2008-07-25 12:55:54

hence the name “media whores” or since they are getting paid outright now should we say “media prostitutes”….anyway, your assessment makes perfect sense. NBC, MSNBC, they’re all a bunch of disgusting pigs, would never watch that channel no matter what they were airing unless it was Obama’s dirty laundry.

Comment by suthrn | 2008-07-25 13:11:16

i think his bunch call it ho s

 
 

Comment by NotBrainwashed | 2008-07-25 14:46:53

 

Comment by Patti | 2008-07-25 15:02:36

He’s at it again. Infantile orgasm.

Comment by Northwest rain | 2008-07-25 15:51:53

Moral of the story — NEVER have a mouth full of tea while reading comments on NQ!

 
 
 

Comment by secularhumanizinevoluter | 2008-07-25 12:42:59

I predict here and now oBOMBalamadingdong will take GOLD in Freestyle Flipflopping!!

Comment by wodiej | 2008-07-25 12:52:41

 

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:53:31

Well, it want be running, because Obama ain’t got no lunchbox.

 

Comment by Patti | 2008-07-25 15:03:25

Even if he doesn’t, he will.

 
 

Comment by missE | 2008-07-25 12:44:39

Obama Olympic ad.

Shot of Olympic rings
Shot of giant Obama sun eclipsing Olympic rings.
voice over:

Senator Barack Obama, the son of a typical white person and a Kenyan goat herder, would like to remind the world’s athletes in their pursuit of the gold medal of his immortal words; yes we (you) can.

Senator Barack Obama would also like to remind the athletes of the world while their hard work,talent sweat and determination is admirable, the glory belongs to the ONE.

Comment by Uña de Gato | 2008-07-25 12:49:54

I’m sure they will be done very tastefully and no animals will have been harmed in the making of them.

 

Comment by Patti | 2008-07-25 15:09:43

as he shoots his wad, again.

 

Comment by mahaska | 2008-07-25 18:04:49

He’d like to remind them of Cezar Chavez’ words.
Si, se puede.

 
 

Comment by Kevin | 2008-07-25 12:46:57

Does anyone watch the olympics anymore?
i think this is a waste of money

Comment by AnnieO | 2008-07-25 12:49:39

I think only a few events are popular. If I remember correctly, NBC was disappointed with the viewership in the past.

Comment by JoseyJ | 2008-07-25 13:25:55

NBC/General Electric is betting on their new corporate toy.
They also sold the public on Bush in 2000 and the Iraq War.
Obama is indebted to the corporate media!

 

Comment by Patti | 2008-07-25 15:11:03

Yea, it’s August and I’m in the mood to watch swimming.

 
 

Comment by Karma | 2008-07-25 13:43:14

My husband liked the Women’s Beach Volleyball…lol.

Comment by Patti | 2008-07-25 15:12:42

so does my girlfriend, AHAHHHAAA,HAAAAA HAAAAA AHAH I’M CRACKING ME UP.

 
 

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:54:48

I am BOycotting it, because it is being held in China.

Comment by DoroB | 2008-07-25 23:32:27

Hillary Clinton was the first to urge Bush to boycott the opening ceremonies b/c of human rights abuse in China. Obama tried to copy her–except that his statement was noncommittal. So much for calling himself a Democrat. I hope he loses the Chinese-American votes.

 
 
 

Comment by Sami | 2008-07-25 12:48:09

And Rev. Wright pontificated about ‘rich White people’????

Obama’s spending habits are almost decadent.

Comment by Undercover Black Man | 2008-07-25 16:45:28

Shame on him for trying to win an election.

And don’t think the Republican National Committee won’t be spending a hundred million or two.

Obama is spending it because he has it. He has it because folks like me are donating. And will continue to.

Comment by DoroB | 2008-07-25 23:22:01

…and will continue to crawl up that bus
again, again, and again
aren’t you tired of being thrown under the bus so many times?

 

Comment by Hope Floats | 2008-07-26 11:20:03

because folks like me in Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia and Gaza are donating.

 
 
 

Comment by anonymous "racist" | 2008-07-25 12:49:40

Crap. I was thinking of boycotting the Olympics because of Tibet. Now I think I have to and will tell NBC.

nbcolympicsfeedback@nbcuni.com

I already stopped watching MSNBC for obvious reasons. To hell with the entire network now.

Comment by StrawberrybitesBarky | 2008-07-25 15:12:02

And Mccain is meeting with the Dalai Lama today, I wonder what China thinks about that.

Comment by Karma | 2008-07-25 16:52:40

He is bummed he didn’t think of it first.

 
 
 

Comment by Woman Voter | 2008-07-25 12:51:16

Same draw in Berlin as in the USA…FREE CONCERTS to draw them in and the Germans flip for 1/2 the cost of his FOREIGN CAMPAIGN TOUR, while in the US CITIZENS are DECLARED 1/2 a PERSON by the DNC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sufduh7uGGc&feature=related

Comment by olivia1998 | 2008-07-25 12:56:06

They also had free food supplied by 12 venders and 2 local rock bands. Hell I would have went what away to send a summer afternoon. Obama is so phony. Not real bone in his body.

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:56:27

Beer and Sausages too

Comment by Zeke | 2008-07-25 15:16:54

Bread and circuses!
If you offer young Germans free beer, they are going to do what young Americans do, get drunk, listen to music and take a piss when the Stand-up Comic does his bit.

 
 
 
 

Comment by Chicago Joe | 2008-07-25 12:52:55

Gee, no wonder so much favorable treatment from the stooges at MSNBC. I have come to the conclusion that the MSM are absolutely corrupted to the point of no return.

Comment by PuppyDogMom | 2008-07-25 13:00:31

 

Comment by goock | 2008-07-25 13:01:01

 
 

Comment by N. Lee | 2008-07-25 12:57:23

I don’t care how many ads he buys. I still won’t vote for him.

 

Comment by rachel | 2008-07-25 12:59:23

So millions of dollars are going to be spent to shove the dumbass in our faces at the Olympics. I guess this means with everything else, the Olympics joins the list of everything that is all about him too, huh? Many Americans are having a very difficult time financially and should be joining together in a resounding WTF????

Comment by Zeke | 2008-07-25 15:20:51

NOTE TO ALL PUMA FANS!
I am passing this info to you all out of love and concern for your emotional safety.

BUY A TIVO!

We can blow through the Barry crap commercials at a fast enough rate that their subliminals won’t affect us.
:)

 
 

Comment by Ben David | 2008-07-25 13:00:07

Oh my my. Here again obama is trying his best to baffle folks with his bs and dazzle em with his brillance, or other way round. Such a putz.

 

Comment by Woman Voter | 2008-07-25 13:03:47

“Senator Obama told you what you wanted to hear, I told you the truth!”- Senator John McCain

OUCH!…

Comment by Zeke | 2008-07-25 15:21:59

That line is almost enough to drop Barry where he stands.

 

Comment by mahaska | 2008-07-25 18:08:02

Tell the truth and shame the devil.

 
 

Comment by N. Lee | 2008-07-25 13:07:44

Just Say NO to MSM. Stop watching. Stop buying products that advertise with them.

We have more power than we realize. Let’s us it.

Comment by AnninCa | 2008-07-25 13:11:55

Frankly, just let nature work. I haven’t watched network news in 3 years. It’s silly crap. I can get that news faster on the net. I haven’t paid one bit of attention to any of the political commentators during the entire election. I frankly think they are Jerry Springer ala politics. They are tacky.

I don’t even watch Meet the Press. They all get 1 sentence, it’s usually irrelevant, and it’s nearly always opinion only.

There is nothing on TV worth watching, in short.

I read the editorials. They are also usually worthless. About 1 article in 10 is worth the time.

There has been a severe death is good journalism or I’m getting pickier.

But ……

Boycotts aren’t necessary or letters sent or any of that nonsense.

Just let the networks die.

Comment by suthrn | 2008-07-25 13:17:34

i dont have much faith in what the media tells us….has become nonsense and spin…nobody wants to tell it like it really is anymore…too bad its gotten this way.

 

Comment by wodiej | 2008-07-25 13:19:22

 
 
 

Comment by kat in your hat | 2008-07-25 13:10:22

Way too much of Obama in the media–people are getting sick of it. It’s become a turn off…Obama media overload is desensitzing voters to his candidacy.

Obama: Go Away.

Comment by N. Lee | 2008-07-25 13:16:33

I used to check out yahoo page and read the news, but Nobama’s face is everywhere. Stopped going to Yahoo altogether.

Women’s Media Center has offered to be a watchdog for sexism in the media.

Bookmark this page and report sexism.

http://www.womensmediacenter.com/sexism_watch.html

 
 

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:13:12

Well, I decided along time ago, that I will BOcotting the Olympics. I am disgusted that it is being held in China.

So, I will be switching channels.

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:14:53

Typo error..BOycotting

Comment by K Lynne | 2008-07-25 13:24:33

LOL, I liked ‘BOcotting’ ;-).

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:58:11

Comment by WildChild | 2008-07-25 14:02:21

That was really funny.

 
 
 
 

Comment by imustprotest | 2008-07-25 13:15:13

I’ll be wondering which country Obama will be rooting for….certainly won’t be the USA.

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:21:28

ha ha..I understand what your saying…mmm. What about “Obamaland”, “ObamaKingdom”, “Heaven and Hell”, “TrollopLand”, oh the list is endless, except for USA.

 

Comment by Zeke | 2008-07-25 15:24:05

Barry will probably want to meet the Cuban Bobsled team.

 

Comment by mahaska | 2008-07-25 18:10:09

They tossed Iraq. Said they missed some deadline or other.

Comment by Zeke | 2008-07-25 18:42:08

Iraq picked their own representatives and the Olympics said no.
We should boycott because of it. How much use would Barry’s ads be if we didn’t go to the Olympics?

 
 
 

Comment by missE | 2008-07-25 13:21:03

Hey TeaMug,

Obama is heading your way. Do folks in the UK have Obama fever?

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:33:23

You toerag,ha ha. thanks for reminding me!! Well, so far I have not come across any Obamamides, but I am sure the British Governement and Poodle Blair and dippy Cameron will be licking his feet!! I freaked out today, because I went into a newspaper shop and spotted 5 papers with photos from Obama in Berlin..These papers are the upper market ones!! gross, I had to move away.

Obama is suppose to be landing in the UK this evening, either by plane or magic carpet. Will be looking out for him outside Downing Street, without Brown. I am hoping there will be loads of British press outside waiting for him.

At the moment Obama is in France, the French Prime Minister loves Obama and all things American. They have huge matching egos.

I will try and make sure Obama is on the flight back to America as soon as possible for you all. The sooner he leaves Europe the better!! There a alot of ex-pats, democratics abroad in London, so maybe there will be some American flag waving!!

I don’t know what time he is meeting Brown, maybe in the morning after his breakfast with the Middle East Envoy Poodle Blair.

Comment by TeaMug | 2008-07-25 13:42:55

Obama is meeting The Three Stoogies (Blair, Brown, Cameron) Saturday, but lands tonight.

 

Comment by missE | 2008-07-25 13:52:52

My dear TeaMug, sorry about the horror at th