50 State (ADVERTISING) Strategy

I'm fine with Obama's first salvo of national ads, but I'm also hoping for something different this year: I'd like to see an ad campaign that matches the 50-state strategy we've heard so much about.  In other words, let's see some ads that focus on the unique concerns throughout the country.

For example, there could be an ad just for Nevada slamming McCain for his pro-Yucca Flats position.  There could be an ad for Northern Virginia on Obama's plan for fixing the transportation crisis.  There could be an ad on fair trade for Michigan and Ohio.

I'm sure there are plenty of other examples of regional concerns (and I'm sure you all might be able to provide some in the comments).  With Obama's purported resources advantage, this sort of production is very possible.  In fact, if they could turn these into fundraising vehicles themselves - sending out a link to people in a relevant geographic area about a new ad addressing a unique concern of there's and asking for donations to get that ad on the air.  For example, cutting an add on Yucca, sending a link to it to all Nevada-based emails, and asking them to fund.  I, for one, would appreciate and more likely donate for an ad that targets my local concerns.

So, rather than cookie-cutter national ads the entire year, let's see an advertising strategy that truly captures the 50-state strategy we're about to see.

•  Tips, recs, thoughts, etc.

  by VirginiaDem on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:30:28 AM PDT

•  Here is my thoughts on a national ad...

  Barack Obama as a bus driver.  Driving the "hope" express or whateve you want to call it.  He travels the country picking up blue collar workers, moms, nurses, all walk of life.  One by one they get on the bus.  Then the last stop.  Camera shooting from Obama's vantage point.  Doors open, its Hillary Clinton.  "Room for one more?" she says.  She gets on, they drive off into the sunset. The End

  by mobilio316 on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:32:59 AM PDT

  •  LOL -- that's good!

    What if they do an alternate ending, so you're always wondering who is going to get picked up?  Edwards, Gore, etc. etc.?

    by VirginiaDem on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:34:38 AM PDT

    •  i like it!

      by mobilio316 on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:36:17 AM PDT

  •  Yeah, I don't know. . . .

    The black candidate as a bus driver? Ye gods, what would you follow that with? A party unity ad with Obama and Hillary recreating Driving Miss Daisy?

    Just razzing you on it, but you have to bear in mind how the symbolism will be taken by some people -- and how some will take every chance to turn it against us.

    Now, walking with a growing crowd behind him, that's cool.

    by Jaxpagan on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:38:21 AM PDT

  •  Twilight Zone had an episode eerily similar

    to this scenario.  Woman in hospital is beckoned by a nurse to follow her.  Woman follows nurse to basement (morgue as it turns out), the door opens and someone says "There is always room for one more."  Woman screams, leaves hospital, flees to airport, is met by (then)stewardess who says "There is always room for one more."  Woman screams again, doesn't board the plane.  Plane takes off and explodes in air.

    Hillary gets on bus, bus explodes...

    by JFinNe on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:58:57 AM PDT

    •  lol

      by mobilio316 on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 06:06:38 AM PDT

      •  Maybe LOL now, scared the living daylights out

        of me at the time.  It has rather become a self fulfilly prophesy:  Room for one more?  There's always room for one more.  Do Not Enter!

        by JFinNe on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 06:12:04 AM PDT

•  BO up 5 in Montana this AM

  according to Rasmussen. 48-43. Last poll the trend was the exact opposite.

  This is major news I think.

  by MarcoNYC on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:39:55 AM PDT

  •  I've Thought For Some Time That Montana Would Be

    the surprise state.  In a prediction thingy I did awhile ago, I put Montana in Obama's column.  It's a state that went for Clinton once, and has continually moved Left even more than the rest of that region over the past few years.

    by omgitsparishilton on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:43:29 AM PDT

  •  That seems a bit odd...

    given that he has not led in any poll ever in Montana according to 538.

    Still the last Rasmussen poll there was on 4/6 and the only more recent poll there (which has McCain up by 8) was Mason-Dixon who, as far as I can tell, take their polls by throwing darts at a poster filled with random numbers.

    Nevertheless, it's interesting if not convincing.

    ~Doc~

    by EquationDoc on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:46:42 AM PDT

•  Can't do it

  if people don't give money because he isn't doing everything exactly the way they want him to.

  by Joefdb on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:40:02 AM PDT

  •  Too many self-appointed campaign strategists

    tippy tapping on the toobz.

    by bumblebums on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:49:15 AM PDT

•  I like the notion of market-specific ads

  It's just good advertising. There are broad national issues (where Americans agree with us over the Republicans), but what can often pull out the voters are the more local issues -- things like Yucca mountain in Nevada, or the salmon kills in the Klamath River in northern California, or the impact of climate on livelihoods in the heartland.

  I think the more generic, cookie-cutter ads are minimally effective and, for that matter, better disseminated via the Internet and Youtube than as paid TV spots.

  by Jaxpagan on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:44:37 AM PDT

•  mountain top removal in Appalachia

  this is a really good idea

  by oohdoiloveyou on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 06:52:33 AM PDT

  •  Great one!

    I hope someone from the campaign sees this thread.

    by VirginiaDem on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 06:55:56 AM PDT

•  I haven't seen any Obama ads

  but we are being inundated by McCain -- same ad being run over and over. And it is a hoot, too. McCain is going to do EVERYTHING for EVERYONE. He is going to reduce taxes AND create new jobs AND fix the mortgage crisis AND reduce gas prices AND provide healthcare for everyone AND bring the troops home from Iraq AND support the veterans AND

  (**PUT DOWN THE COFFEE CUP AND SWALLOW BEFORE READING**)

  hold corporate CEOs accountable.

  It is hilarious. Just 30 seconds of listing all of the things he will do and not one word of how.

  by carolita on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 09:07:31 AM PDT