Obama Spends $350K On Ads In Omaha, Versus McCain's Zero

It is an unlikely scenario, but one the Obama campaign has been prepping for. If the Democratic Senator wins every state won by John Kerry in the 2004 election, plus Iowa, New Mexico and Nevada, he and John McCain would be tied at 269 electoral votes.

Obama, however, has an ace in the hole. His campaign has been pouring resources into Omaha, Nebraska, in hopes of getting that one additional electoral vote from a state that divvies them up by congressional district.

To date, the Obama campaign has spent $350,000 on television advertisements in that market compared to zero from the McCain campaign, according to Evan Tracey of the Campaign Media Analysis Group. Obama also has 15 paid staffers on the ground in a state that hasn't voted Democratic since Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and hasn't had a Democrat seriously compete within its borders since Bobby Kennedy's Nebraska train tour in 1968.

"The presence of the campaign here is historic in and of itself," said an Obama aide.

Matt Connealy, executive director of the Nebraska Democratic Party, set the bar a bit higher: "I think we will come close in Lincoln. If we keep doing what we are doing in the next couple weeks, we may even flip the congressional district in Omaha."

Connealy's outlook is, in all likelihood, overly optimistic. Democratic operatives say that while Obama has made inroads in the state, Nebraska is still decidedly conservative. And while Omaha has a demographic makeup more favorably disposed to the Illinois Democrat than other areas, the district includes suburban areas that have been majority Republican for some time.

There are several developments that could help tip the scale. Warren Buffet, the oracle of Omaha, has endorsed Obama and donated money to his candidacy. More political help from the famed-investor - like say, an appearance alongside him in Nebraska - could sway some minds. The same holds true with Nebraska's Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, who has sat on the sidelines throughout the election despite, on occasion, spouting off critical words of John McCain and complimentary takes on Obama.

As it stands now, the Obama team is working off a game plan that doesn't rely on flipping a Nebraska congressional district (the McCain campaign, too, is looking to peel off a district in Maine, which also allocates its electoral votes proportionally). And Obama's spending there pales in comparison to the investments he has made in actual swing states. But with an abundance of resources, they are liberated to take into mind any, however unlikely, hypothetical election outcome. And they aren't leaving many stones unturned.

"We can compete in traditionally Republican strongholds like Nebraska because voters across the country are ready for change and can't afford four more years of the same failed Bush policies that John McCain is offering," said Obama's Nebraska spokeswoman Erin Fitzgerald.

Comments

[iPolitics]

I thought he was on the defense? Lol

[ArmyCentrist]

Thoughtful, effective, and precise. That's an Obama campaign for you. McCain spends way more money on a lot less substance. Obama is making inroads in a solid red state for less than $500,000. I love finally knowing my money isn't being wasted!

[KitWit]

Palin wears a wire over her right shoulder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFhI3cWY6L4&eurl=http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=17403367&ref=name

[EvasDaddy]

Isn't it typical to be miked for that sort of event?

If she had said anything smart during the debate, I might think she was being coached, but ...

[RadCenter]

There was a mike on the podium in front of her.

[w8aminute]

I hope Obama will run the country as well as he's run his campaign. All of my friends that were Hillary supporters (minus one aunt - she's still bitter) have come around to realize the same thing. I always say, look - he ran a better campaign - maybe he'd run the country better too. And they're starting to agree....or maybe they want me to shut up already...

[BCubedReg]

I admit, he has developed the ultimate paly book for conducting a political campaign. They will be using his playbook in every election to follow.

[RaineyDay5]

Yup!

[patrickmurfin]

And as a bonus, the Omaha media market dominates western Iowa, a state Obama is hotly contesting and now seems likely to go blue.

[rabprevent]

VERY SMART ON OBAMA'S PART, LEAVE NO STONE UNTURN!!

THAT IS TH KIND OF PALNFUL APPROACH WHICH MAKES HIM BRILLIANT!!!!!!

VOTE NO TO MCCAIN AND ALL HIS CRONIES

[MarkieBee]

This is why I donate gladly. They're so freakin' smart. My money is always well-spent. They made me think seriously about buying an iPhone just so I could get the Obama apps.

[Simonesmom]

I downloaded the Obama app yesterday.

I really like it. The innovative thinking of this campain truly amazes me. This is the type of innovative thinking that we need in the White House.

[ccrane]

I, for one, would love to hear from some Nebraskans on the ground about how it's going in your state.

[robXdion]

Nebraska??? Why? I know he got a huge crowd there in the primary, but seriously, that's a money hole. You gotta let the grassroots handle that.

[alienufo]

read the frickin article? nebraska gives out its electoral votes by district, its possible he could get one electoral vote out of the state.

[kmac23va]

Maine also does this allocation, which is why some of the Michigan McCain forces are headed to the 2nd district in Maine to try and get its electoral vote. So it could be a wash.

[Darnamell]

Take the fight to every corner of the country. Just let us know when you need another $25 and where you plan to use it. All we ask it that you use it wisely lest we are screwed with a President Dimbulb come the day McCain's melanoma makes a comeback.

[bootcamp]

McCain has nowhere to go now but down. He can run away from President Bush, but he can't run away from the Republican Party. The Republicans will be regarded from now on as "the party that wrecked America." Over the weeks ahead, as carnage in the economy and the financial markets ramps up, it will become increasingly clear. It is important that this meme be spread through the internet. I urge all commentators to adopt and spread the idea that the Republicans are "the party that wrecked America." It will work because it is the truth. Use it freely. Just spread the word.

[MarkieBee]

ah, they need the $25 NOW!