DCCC prepares $4 million ad buy

[MarkWarner08]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/27/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4214936.shtml

"The committee reserved $2.1 million on costly New York City broadcast media time on behalf of city councilman Mike McMahon, the likely Democratic nominee in retiring Rep. Vito Fossella’s Staten Island district.

It also blocked off $1.2 million on Portland broadcast television for retiring Rep. Darlene Hooley’s Oregon district. And the DCCC spent $667,000 on Denver broadcast TV on behalf of Democrat Betsy Markey, who is challenging Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.)."

Why? The GOP doesn't have a top candidate in NY-13, the GOP candidate in OR-05 has been crippled by a two scandals, one about a wild cocaine party, the other involing his funding of an abortion, and CO-04 is currently being targeted by a 200k ad buy by Defenders of Wildlife.

The DCCC must be trying to lock down NY-13 and OR-05 early, while seeking to soften up CO-04. While I think other seats deserve more early attention, the DCCC 40 million dollar COH advantage (!), affords it some leeway to make questionable IE decisions.

[MarkWarner08]

To correct the title here, they haven't launched anything.  Just made a point of saying that they're earmarking this money.  And, of course, we all know that this couldn't possibly be subject to change.

Good point. I considered using your word "earmark," but that seemed a little too politically charged for this context.

[MarkWarner08]

I don't think they will end up spending much in Oregon. It's a waste of money, unless our candidate sucks at fundraising.

It's apt that you'd point that out. Democrat Schrader is struggling to raise funds, partly because he's a center-right Democrat in a state replete with mostly far-left Democratic donors.