Obama spot kicks off California ad wars

Californians who've contributed hard-earned cash to presidential campaigns finally will start to see some of what it buys: TV ads.

Democrat Barack Obama raises the curtain Saturday with the first television pitch by a presidential candidate on Golden State stations this cycle. The environmentally themed spot is slated to air on broadcast outlets in the Bay Area, according to a campaign official.

The 30-second ad's last lines encapsule Obama's efforts to define himself as a politician willing to break from the past: "We can't just tell people what they want to hear. We need to tell them what they need to hear. We need to tell them the truth."

It's titled "Quiet," and you can view it here.

No word on how extensive the ad buy is or when the campaign will go up in the most populous -- and costly -- Southern California market.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[evelyn]

I love Obama to death but this ad is a bit contrived. He needs to outline clearly his policy proposals. The first part of the ad doesn't jive with the last sentence. Obama, I want you in the White House. Don't choke now, get some better ads!!

[John A S]

Prominent Democrats, who themselves have run for President, who fully well know the Clintons, have come out to support Barack Obama. Does anyone think that Gary Hart and John Kerry don't fully know Hillary and her games? They are explicit in their reasoning that Obama is the right man at the right time in history. Wait until Al Gore gets behind him too. Oh, sorry, but Gore isn't running for President. That would be a demotion for him. He has no reason to support Hillary either. It is the scandals of the Clinton machine that prevented him from beating he who would become the single worst President in the history of America. It is the Clintons who let Bush and his people lead this country into a wrong war that never should have happened. And it is forever the fault of the Clintons, that the Supreme Court was tilted to the far right because their personal decisions made it impossible for a Democrat to be elected in 2000. Their time was in the last century. We haven't forgotten what they didn't do. It is a new day, and time for a new direction. Obama!

[William Connell]

Too many cutaways...let's see Obama more.

And there are only three themes to be hitting:

His judgment and foresight -- demonstrated in his seeing the disaster that would be Iraq . . .

the need to move fast to deal with the collapsing economy that is hitting working families the hardest of all, . . .

and the imperative, above all, to work together, to cross party lines, to change America society for the better, to become, finally. "One nation, indivisible . . . with liberty and justice for all."

Don't waste your ad money on other issues. Time and money is too short.

Keep it simple. Keep it natural. Keep it focused. Keep it positive. He must make us believe that he can see and feel a better America coming for every working family, and he knows how to take us there . . ."Yes, we can! Yes, we can do it! Yes, we can!'

Pick up from his original pre-Iraq speech and label it "Foresight, judgment -- what Obama will bring to the Presidency.

Pick up from his Iowa victory speech: the stirring call to join together.

Let him hit hard on a third theme that in bad economic times we must all pull together, put people back to work, building for the future, pouring our resources of money and manpower into rebuilding America, investing in new technologies and infrastructure to meet the enormous challenge of pollution-caused climate change.

And at some point .Obama needs to talk directly into the camera, in his own words, with his own cadence and intensity to the famiily in its living room, not ten feet away. The speeches are splendid, but he also needs to talk to us as intimately as he would talk to his family and close friends -- quietly, but intently, emotionally Let him be seen as if he were actually sitting down with us and sharing with us his vision, his confidence, and his passionate commitment to lead major change, major reform, a better America.
T
This is urged by a man who worked at Hubert Humphrey's side for over twenty years, and who also produced the media for two presidential campaigns (Humphrey and Udall) and the successful Senate races of Humphrey, Levin, Zorinksy, Sarbanes, Williams and others.

And, yes, my wife and I are contributing as much as we can, and will continue to do so.

And I will be a precinct captain for Obama in my Orange County CA precinct.

[Kellie M]

I am sick of Billary and this sense of entitlement they seem to have. Billary is using her gender to get votes, but not once has Barack asked anyone to vote for him because of his race. When Billary won in NH, he showed class and congratulated her; when she lost Iowa, Billary complained about the media. There is a sharp contrast in these campaigns; Obama is telling people what they need to hear and how they can come together for a better America while Billary is doing everything in their power to win because we all know this is the last chapter of their bio and they will do anything to protect that. they are running for themselves, not us? why do you think she faked those tears?

[Dennis]

Hello,

The way you posted "Obama spot kicks off California ad wars", suggests something negative about Obama. the It appears to me that the LA Times has been showing a BIAS for Hillary Clinton.

[Ronald Loui]

I agree with John A S, and sorry, guys, also with Dennis.

Not only are Bill Clinton's personal problems to blame for failure to deal with Al Qaida, but the right-leaning Supreme Court is also part of his ghastly legacy. If Hillary's self-pity and not-quite-high-school-completed NH supporters put her in the executive seat, we might see another mid-term-Gingrich rise up and there will be trouble trying to balance the court. As it is, the replacements will be made after an HRC presidency has had a few years to really galvanize the right.

As for ad money, I did some looking at these donor numbers:

(using fundrace.huffingtonpost.com's search interrface)

NYU donors: Obama 18, Clinton 15.
Columbia U donors: Obama 27, Clinton 26.
CUNY donors: Obama 3, Clinton 2.
Cornell U donors: Obama 4, Clinton 6.
SUNY donors: Obama 0, Clinton 4.
U of Rochester donors: Obama 3, Clinton 9.

U Chicago donors: Obama 51, Clinton 2.
U Illinois donors: Obama 19, Clinton 4.
Northwestern U donors: Obama 34, Clinton 2.
DePaul U donors: Obama 9, Clinton 1.
Illinois Institute of Technology: Obama 5, Clinton 0.

So Illinois loves Obama, but Hillary only splits her state's most thoughtful people. How about Cali?

UCLA: Obama 23, Clinton 14.
USC: Obama 10, Clinton 1.
UC Berkeley: Obama 18, Clinton 10.
UCSF: Obama 11, Clinton 6.
UC Irvine: Obama 1, Clinton 2.
UC Davis: Obama 3, Clinton 2.
UCSD: Obama 3, Clinton 2.
UC Riverside: Obama 0, Clinton 1.
Stanford: Obama 38, Clinton 26.
U of SD: Obama 0, Clinton 3.
U of SF: Obama 1, Clinton 0.
Mills: Obama 0, Clinton 2.
Pitzer: Obama 1, Clinton 0.
Loyola: Obama 2, Clinton 0.
Pomona: Obama 3, Clinton 0.
Occidental: Obama 1, Clinton 1.
Caltech: Obama 1, Clinton 0.

[Linda]

William Connell (message above) should be Obama's campaign manager. I, too, am a supporter sending money to the Obama campaign. The only frustration I have right now is that his message of specific policy proposals and recommended actions hasn't been communicated to the public at large. We need to see more of the personal side of Obama, too.

[Let's Turn The Page America]

Let's end the Dual-Monarchy of BUSH/CLINTON...Obama'08!

[Michaele]

The voters of California are going to choose between the old politics of the 90s and the new politics of the 21st Century. If we are content with a two-party system that gave us the Bush/Clinton/Bush family dynasty, we can expect to see America dominated by old faces and old ideas.

Let's hope that both parties break from the machine politics that has pitted so called red states against blue states. America needs to unite as one country if we hope to solve the problems that have gone unaddressed for two decades.

Senator Obama brings a breath of fresh air to the 2008 election and his messages challenges us to unite on common ground. If we can't make the two party system work, we will see the emergence of a third party that is more interested in the will of the people, the reputation of our country and the future of our children. I do not want to have Washington dominated by two American families at the expense of my family.

[chocolateice]

Barack Obama is speaking the truth about “Change” and “Yes, we can” slogans because we need a new direction in United States for all people. Barback Obama voice is refreshing to those who are willing to take the steps to make the changes along with Barack Obama as our next President of United States. The reason why it is important to support Barack Obama, he wants to take the country into a new direction whereas Hillary Clinton wants the same Bill Clinton’s polices for another 12 years which will overwhelm us. A fresh start with Barack Obama leadership will diffuse the tension around the World allowing USA to speak to those countries that are skeptic of us. With his leadership, we will have better relationships with other countries throughout the World. For this reason, I support Barack Obama for our next President of United States 2008! Are you ready to give Barack Obama your support?