Repubs counter Bean buy with even more money
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Another chess piece is moved.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington is displaying some political strength with a $1 million TV ad buy for her nationally significant re-election bid.
But the National Republican Congressional Committee is moving to support its candidate, Barrington Hills investment banker David McSweeney, by reserving $1.8 million of ad time.
The flurry of ad purchases in the 8th Congressional District contest means that with the governor’s race, nationally watched 6th Congressional District contest and perhaps the Cook County Board president’s race, Chicago-area airwaves will be blanketed with far more political commercials than normal this fall.
“It’s going to be a very competitive market and I think candidates are at a disadvantage if they don’t buy early,†Eric Adelstein, Bean’s media consultant, said Saturday.
What have you heard about this race lately?
- Squideshi - Monday, Aug 21, 06 @ 8:07 am:
Lots of money and mass media aren’t the only way to win an election. Rich Whitney is running a different type of campaign–one that refuses all corporate money and replaces it with grassroots people power and volunteer legwork.
- Wumpus - Monday, Aug 21, 06 @ 8:36 am:
I know the precinct captains are energized for McSweeney and he is actually visible at functions, unlike Crane. I can’t speak for Bean’s volunteers, but I am not sure what the unions will do for her. I know they weren’t every volunteer, but they did more than eat donuts, they knocked on doors too. Should be very competetive.
- Lovie's Leather - Monday, Aug 21, 06 @ 9:30 am:
“Lots of money and mass media aren’t the only way to win an election. Rich Whitney is running a different type of campaign–one that refuses all corporate money and replaces it with grassroots people power and volunteer legwork.”
Yeah, and Rich Whitney is gonna get 2% of the vote if he is lucky!!! Please….
- Woe is us - Monday, Aug 21, 06 @ 11:12 am:
Thank God for TiVo. I can just zip thru all those commercials.
- kdruben - Monday, Aug 21, 06 @ 9:25 pm:
Bean had a walk day this weekend and has been doing some very strong voter ID. I have the faith in Bean that she will be able to pull it off… both of them will have the money… that is a non issue.
- NW Burbs - Monday, Aug 21, 06 @ 11:18 pm:
This story compares an apple to an orange. The Dtrip-C already put down air time money which Bean and Duckworth are set to share. That was about $2.3 mil if I recall. So the NRCC came up with $1.8mil.
Those are the numbers you should compare.
How much ad time has McSweeney’s campaign bought in comparison to Rep. Bean’s $1mil?
And none of this includes the drop-in-the-bucket US Chamber of Commerce ad buy (now airing) for Rep. Bean. This is an ad buy which would normally have gone to the Republican in a given race.
Barring a miracle McSweeney’s going to lose by a point or two. Bean’s incumbency is too strong even after just two years. Why change horses midstream? Only the partisans look at this as an R vs D thing — Bean’s shown herself to be an able Representative of the district.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 22, 06 @ 9:39 am:
Why change horses in mid-stream? Because you can’t trust her. That’s why the unions are witholding support for her NW Burbs.
Did you know that she’s the only Democrat on the ticket not to be endorsed by the AFL-CIO?
Think about it.
P.S. Rich Whitney is pretty goofy. He’s running for governor of Illinois and has a picture of Africa behind him. Does he know where Illinois is?
- Wumpus - Tuesday, Aug 22, 06 @ 10:52 am:
Perhaps Rich is trying to trick people into thinking he is Obama. Since Obama is on a mission to irrigate the desert with his big blue ox, Babe; end aids and starvation as we know it.
- Anon - Saturday, Aug 26, 06 @ 4:48 pm:
Well,
Melissa has the support of 14 local unions, and the Northeastern AFL-CIO. So she is still getting strong support from unions. I believe the IBEW is calling every night for her and walking too. They know that someone that votes 80% with labor is way better than someone who votes 0%.
As for money, McSweeney has about $400,000 on hand. Melissa has about 2.3 million, minus 1 million for the ad buy, so about 1.3 million?
The NRCC “reserved” ad time, which means they will still be subject to increased TV rates, whereas Melissa has BOUGHT her ad-time at a low rate.
Unfortunately for McSweeney, the NRCC is spending all of it’s money protecting incumbents, not funding challengers.
And if McSweeney writes another check (which is questionable) he will increase Bean’s contribution limits to about $6,000 because of the millionaires clause. Giving her a huge advantage.
Tough luck to be a R these days.