Instead of buying a lot of ads, why not put campaign money, especially primary money, into
helping communities. $100,000 given to some local libraries could go a long way. You can build parks and refurbish some small local history museums or restore trails or fund local volunteers, hospice or "meals on wheels".
You say to the voters, "listen, I don't want to buy your vote, I want to improve your community, for Democrats, Republicans, non-voters, children, everyone, and win or lose I will say I had a positive impact. If I spend this money at your local TV station, I'm still trying to get your votes, let me do something positive and judge me for what how I choose to help out."
What do you think?
This might not be workable in the general so much, but in primaries I think it's probably workable into a good idea. It's actually my wife's idea. And suddenly spending $200 Million on a campaign might not be such a bad thing.
I imagine you'd get enough free press that it would pay for itself even in terms of traditional media buys but the real benefit would be that such money can go a long way for communities.
If all the Democrats did this, whichever one won would look great by the time the general election came around I figure.
It's just the seed of an idea, I haven't thought it all through...