Preston on Politics: Obama's 'Shock and Awe'
Watch Preston on Politics with Evan Tracey as this week's featured guest
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Barack Obama's decision to forgo public financing for his presidential campaign provides him with the tools needed to implement a "Shock and Awe" television ad strategy designed to paralyze John McCain's campaign, an expert on political TV advertising said in an interview with CNN.
The better-funded Obama is likely to force McCain to spend money on TV ads in Arkansas, Georgia and North Carolina, said Evan Tracey, CNN's consultant on political television advertising. At this point in the campaign, these are states that CNN projects McCain has an edge over the Illinois Democrat, but by no means are these states safely in the Arizona Republican's column.
DON'T MISS: analysis on the deceptive South Dakota primary attack ad that only ran once.
Obama is expected to raise three or four times the $85 million he would have received from the public financing system, providing him with a huge financial advantage over McCain, who has opted to take the public funds.
Wow. I'm surprised that CNN's moderators would allow racist rants from the likes of "Texas Trail Dog" to be posted. This just feeds into what most people think about Texans. Thank you for calling them "AFRICAN AMERICANS." I know what you wanted to call them.
Jan From Boca Raton, Fl....
Can you please tell me when Barack has lied? What has he done that's sooo bad. Is it because he's a black man? Peaple say he cheated to win the primaries.... can someone please tell me HOW?
Wow, Little Lulu and Texas Trail Dog BITTER MUCH!!!!
CNN where is the moderation or downright censorship of these posts!
I am laughing at how people are saying he is buying his way in. He is using PUBLIC financing because it is from 1.5 million Americans who did it!
Let McCain so the same then, if so many people support him, they can send in $20 too and raise the money.
It's not unfair, it's giving power to people. They directly support their candidate!
Obama 08'
If I remember correctly, Obama never promised to use Public Financing, but he did say he would consider it if and when he became the Democratic Nominee. I also wanted to point out that Texas Trail Dog's comments are very telling of what is wrong with this country. PUTTING UGLY COMMENTS IN ALL CAPS doesn't make the posts any more interesting, just maginfies the ignorance. I might just invest in some big Pharma stocks after Obama wins in Nov..I feel many peeps will be taking anti-depressants.
It looks like John McCain really shot himself in the foot this time.
He gambled that, if he accepts public funding and Obama doesn't, he could make Obama the bad guy.
Unfortunately for him, whether Obama is right or wrong, his supporters will forgive him. And they vastly outnumber the McCain supporters.
Since he hasn't broken any laws, he can now force McCain to waste money in the red states, and thereby cripple him in the battleground states.
This is precisely the way he beat Hillary.
Obama/Anybody '08!
Why should I check a box on my returns to fund someone I don't care for? I think Obama has the right stuff that is real campaign reform. If you can get small donars to support you enough to donate to you... WHY NOT? This is fair and square.
Why is it that so many of you out there find this so hard to understand? Buy the Presidency? Would you prefer that all the Lobbyists bank rolling McSame buy him the Presidency?
hmmmmmmmmmm you voted for Bush Twice you get what you deserve. No jobs, No health care, high gas prices... whatever but you will sit down and go on and on about the 25 dollars that I donated to Obama – using my unemployement check no less... go ahead give yours to MacSame and see if maybe you will continue to get unemployment checks if ANY....
"sm in nyc June 24th, 2008 11:55 am ET
OBAMA = VANITY
OBAMA = "PRESENT" BUT NOT "FOR" OR "AGAINST"
OBAMA = SHELL-PAC LOBBYING
OBAMA = RACE CARD CHAMPION
OBAMA = EN VOGUE YET OUT OF TOUCH
OBAMA + BETTER THAN BITTER"
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MCCAIN=OLD
MCCAIN=TIRED
MCCAIN=CONSTANT FLIP-FLOP BETWEEN MAVERICK AND CONSERVATIVE
MCCAIN=BS-TALK EXPRESS
MCCAIN=VOTED FOR BUSH TAX CUT BEFORE HE VOTED AGAINST IT
MCCAIN=CAN'T GET CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT
MCCAIN=CAN'T WIN BECAUSE HE'S BROKE AS HELL
"Texas Trail Dog June 24th, 2008 11:50 am ET
YOU AFRICAN AMERICANS MAKING SUCH LOW DOWN DIRTY COMMENTS ABOUT JOHN McCAIN AND HIS EX-WIFE SHOULD SHUT UP AND BE ASHAMED. UNDOUBTEDLY YOU DON'T OR DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER WHO WAS THE WORST ADULTERER'S OF ALL TIME WERE.
YOUR GREAT BIG TIME LEADER, "REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE REV. JESSE JACKSON." Isn't adultery not in you people's religion."
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White people are saying it, too!
I am trying so hard to like Obama since I have been left with no choice but to vote for him unless I want to see more young people killed in Itaq, and all the polar bears killed in our wilderness, and Roe v Wade overturned...but the man acts a helluva lot like a conservative Republican. His decision on campaign funding is one that a well financed Rebublican like George Bush would make. Obama's supporters see him as the second coming - but they will be sorely disappointed - Obama is like the second coming of Mayor Daley - back room politics, money, corruption, Rezko....
If McCaint can't raise money, don't blame it on Obama. McBush is just a poor excuse for a presidential candidate. He sets a poor example in his personal life by flip flopping on wives. He sets a poor example in his professional life by flip flopping on issues
"susie June 24th, 2008 11:25 am ET
At least, we now know that Obama doesn't keep his word. All his speeches are just talk, you can't believe what he says."
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There's no such thing as a politician who keeps his word.
I challenge you to name one, living or dead.
Even George Washington lied about chopping down the cherry tree!
So let me get this straight.
First the Democratic leadership finds a palatable black man (half white) to run for the Senate for the specific purpose of running for the Presidency shortly thereafter.
Then they convince the naive college students that they are going to change everything in the snap of a finger.
Then they race-bait to lure the African-American voters.
Then they collect as much money as they can from these idealistic Americans, many of whom can scarcely afford it, fooling them into believing that their money is going to some great cause.
Are Americans really as dumb as people think? Oh, I think so!
Wake up! BOTH political parties are despicable.
"Texas Trail Dog June 24th, 2008 11:08 am ET
ANYTHING BACKHANDED AND CROOKED I'M SURE OBAMA AND HIS TEAM OF JACKALS WILL COME UP WITH IT. AREN'T YOU OBAMA SUPPORTERS GOOD AT WORKING LATE AT NIGHT WHILE EVERYONE ELSE HAS GONE TO BED.
AS FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT HILLARY NOT MANAGING HER MONEY WHEN ONLY HAD ABOUT HALF OF WHAT OBAMA MANAGED TO BRING IN FROM HIS WELFARE PEOPLE. SO SHUT THE HADES UP ABOUT THAT. AFTER ALL IT WAS THE CLINTONS WHO WERE THE FIRST TO EVER BALANCE THE BUDGET WHILE IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND LEAVE OFFICE WITH THREE TRILLION DOLLARS IN ESCROW WHICH DUYHA QUICKLY GAVE AWAY BACK TO YOU WELFARE JUNKIES. SO IF YOU WANT HILLARY'S SUPPORT OF OBAMA I WOULD GIVE A LITTLE TO HELP HER PAY OFF HER DEBT. AFTER ALL YOU'RE GOING TO WANT HER IN FOUR YEARS AFTER WHAT MESS OBAMA WILL MAKE OF THIS COUNTRY."
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Such bitterness... 🙁
When I read comments like Brian's, I find it very hard to be proud of my country. First of all, adultury is not limited to black people. What is wrong with him! I loved Bill Clinton, but the last time I looked, he was white, as were Roosevelt, Kennedy, Eisenhower...Plus why can't we be adult about these issues like the French? I get angry at the Obama people for thinking that every criticim against Obama is racist, but I see it's nitwits like Brian who have made them that way!
Well, its funny that people have a problem with Senator Obama making a good business decision and they had no problem with the current administration telling them over 900 lies to get us into a war we have no idea how to get out of. Secondly, has anyone realized that Back in November Senator McCain opted into the public financing to use it as collateral for a couple of millon dollar loans to run his campaigne. Then is opted out and didn't want to use public financing, now he wants to? Now that is what I call a flip flop not to mention its illegal. I encourage everyone to get the facts and don't hate on Obama because he can walk and chew gum at the same time.
The point is that for YEARS Obama has piously championed public financing, only to hypocritically throw it under the bus when it was convenient to do so.
McCain has worked for years, in bipartisan legislative efforts, to reform the political campaign process so offices do not go to the highest bidders. I am proud of his decision to stand steadfast on this issue and keep his word.
It is amusing, yet sad also to see the spinning & rationalization going on here by the Obamabots to justify these actions. Obama is like a reed that bends in every wind, while McCain is like a rock on his principles.
A quick message to those who are against Universal Health Care:
In most, if not all states, everyone who owns a car must have car insurance.
Isn't that the same as Universal Car Insurance? Where would we be if only some people had car insurance?
So what is wrong with making it possible for every person to be able to afford health insurance?
Let's see if you still disagree when you lose your job and can no longer afford health insurance, and then you need brain surgery or something!
On the other hand, in your case, that would be minor surgery! 🙂
The problem for pubs is not that Obama has become big. The real problem is that he is getting bigger and bigger every day. At this rate he will become a giant by november and simply stomp the mission McBush.
Denouncing tax dollars but accepting tax payers money (not that of lobbyist and corporations) is a coup that the pubs have no answer to. Lobbies and Corporations will not throw their money on a losing horse. Only true lovers donate regardless of expected outcome.
Get a grip on reality Sanchez of CNN. OBAMA IS NOT BUYING LOVE as you implied. The fact is LOVE IS BUYING OUT OBAMA as his lovers are pouring in their $5 and $10.
All the lobbyist are mad, they fear losing their jobs, they will do whatever they can to demonize Obama for this.
PeterE-finally someone who has a level head
Do you people even understand what public financing is and why we have it?
Please do a little homework before you post your ignorance (lack of knowledge) and you will understand why people are saying BO is 'buying' the election. (and research BO's prior election and see what he did to get elected)
And please lose the race thing-this article is about money, not color.
For all those who say Obama is buying the presidency, you are mistaken. He is funded by the PUBLIC, not corporations. That means "us" the people, 2million people, myself included.
McCain was crying about this way back in Feb. when Obama was pulling in 55 mill. He knew what was coming.
President Obama. Get used to it.
Danny in Chicago June 24th, 2008 11:49 am ET
Go ahead and bash Chicago. Go ahead. It doesn't matter. Chicago and Obama are rising to the forefront of politics in America and the world. WE gave you Lincoln – and US in Chicago believe that Obama is worthy of Illinois. What kind of history credentials do you have to go against that? SO QUIT BASHING CHICAGO
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Dude, you are an Obama staffer, right? No one else can contridict himself so fast. Either we can "go ahead and bash Chicago" or we need to "QUIT BASHING CHICAGO". Pick a position and stick to it!
Oh, yeah, Obama is your role model so that last was totally lost on you...