Obama's prime-time advantage
TV networks give plenty of free airtime to presidential candidates (at least the ones from the two major parties). They televise their debates. Their news programs frequently cover stump speeches and campaign ads, while soliciting the candidates' views on big stories. Some networks go even further, offering (short) segments to the major parties' nominees in the run-up to Election Day. But Barack Obama's campaign has raised so much money, it can afford to buy more prime-time TV face time. It's spending an estimated $3 million to secure a half an hour slot -- 8 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29 -- on CBS, NBC and Fox. Expect it to drop another million or so to get the same treatment from ABC. (I mean really -- can ABC afford to say no to the guy who may soon choose the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission?)
John McCain's campaign, meanwhile, is federally funded (by McCain's choice), so it probably doesn't have enough cash to do its own TV "roadblock" in the waning days before the election. (In case you're wondering, the so-called "equal time" provision of federal law requires stations only to make time available to all candidates on equal terms, not to give McCain the same amount of time that Obama bought.) McCain can certainly run as much video as he likes online, where the cost is far lower -- but the audience is much smaller, too.
Which brings us to the point of this windy post: Is Obama's TV purchase a symptom of a flawed campaign-finance system? I'm discomfited by the idea of one candidate harnessing -- alone -- the country's most powerful communications medium in the last days of the campaign. Yet it's happened several times before in the TV era. I'm also uneasy about the idea of using public funds to close the fundraising gap between candidates. Nor do I much care for the idea of forcing broadcasters to give candidates more free airtime to address the public. What do you think?
Photo: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images
The campaign finance system *is* flawed. There are still ways for the very wealthy to exert far too much influence. But Obama deserves credit for developing such a powerful fundraising network. And it says volumes about how - and for whom - he would govern. He has received hundreds of thousands of small donations from working people, many of whom have never donated to a campaign before. From the beginning, his priority has been on involving and working for all Americans - which has translated into tremendous fundraising success. Giving McCain free air-time in order to level the playing field with Obama is just as good an idea as giving McCain an extra 1 million votes because he's not as influential a speaker, you know, so there's a level playing field. McCain had the choice to opt out of public financing; he has to live with that choice, just as he has to live with his choice of Gov. Palin for running mate.
Posted by: Joe | October 24, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Buying up all the media to block your opponent is fair in Monopoly. Our country's presidential race is not a board game. To promote fairness, I think that McCain should be offered equal time at the network's expense if necessary. And, I think that it is unseemly for Obama to grab all the time when it is clearly unnecessary.
Posted by: Sue | October 21, 2008 at 07:04 AM
For years, the Republicans have had a major edge over Democrats in fundraising. They are in no position to complain now that they and their presidential candidate are behind the Democrats.
Posted by: MrStephen | October 16, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Given McCain's nearly 24/7 campaign commercial running over on Fox News, which mirrors daily RNC talking points almost verbatim, I think Obama's due his measly 30 minutes.
Please.
Posted by: Paul | October 16, 2008 at 08:26 PM
Obama has run an exceptional campaign. He laid a good foundation, it was a well thought out and executed. He has chosen good people to surround him and work for him. It is very clear that he can delegate. In the campaign he has shown that he has good judgment, excellent organizational skills and can motivate those around him. His temperament is cool, and calm in a crisis. He doesn't allow his emotions to rule him. He is not impulsive but acts quickly enough to be effective.
Obama raised a lot of money and spent it well. He should be allowed to use it as he sees fit and we should not give McCain any money to buy equal time on TV just because he didn't plan well.
I think the campaigns are a good example of how the candidates would run the county. Neither were perfect, but out of the two Obama's was clearly done with the skills of someone who I would like to see run the country.'
I will vote for Obama and Biden.
Posted by: Vonn | October 16, 2008 at 07:55 PM
If Mcain had the money Obama has he wouldn't hesitate buying time on TV.
Posted by: ob08 | October 16, 2008 at 07:14 PM