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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



Obama's Super ad buy

Posted: Sunday, February 03, 2008 4:04 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
In eye-popping ad buy, the Obama campaign will air ads in 24 states during the Super Bowl tonight.

Traditionally the most expensive time to purchase ads, the campaign will air ads in states holding a Democratic primary or caucus on the 5th, 9th, 10th and 12th.

The ad, which features a personalized message from Obama, has him deliver a short appeal that tells audiences that "the world as it is is not the world as it should be."

The buy reflects the considerable financial strength the campaign has entering Super Tuesday. The campaign raised $32 million dollars in January alone.

The RNC responds to the ad buy: "Obama's 'save-the-world' ad will play as well during this year's super bowl as his Bears did in last year's. His message may appeal to niche audiences at left-wing campuses and Kennedy family reunions, but it won't score with mass audiences like the Super Bowl."

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I just heard Hillary steal another line from Obama.  First, after Iowa, she stole the "change" theme; then after S. Carolina, she now talks about the future, not the past (though she still focuses on the past). Her new line she stole is: "This campaign is not about me, it's about you."  Funny thing is, when Obama says it, he means it.  For Hillary, it's just words.  Does any one not think her campaign is about Hillary & Bill & getting their power back at all costs?  How can we believe a thing the Clintons say after their very questionable past & lack of transparency (where are the First Lady papers?)One line she hasn't stolen & continues to make fun of & that is hope: hope that we can have a better world.
Glad to see the republicans attacking Obama - means he must be doing well.  
Why is the RNC ripping on the Bears? Bizarre comment.
Please join with Sen. Obama and his support for nuclear power.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin
Who gives a sh*t what the RNC thinks about the Obama ad buy?
Go Barack !
This ad blows. It looks like the ad was a last minute idea, and it sure comes across as such. I can't see anyone who likes football voting for Barack Obama. That's like running a tampon commercial in a mens room. Waste of money.
This is the one day we wanted to watch football, have a good time and not hear or see politics, thank you.
If I had raised 32 million I'd probably buy some Super Bowl ads too.  Seems like a good move.
Let's go full speed Obama. 2008 for Obama. Monique Ng. San Jose
Sounds like the Republican are scared s***less of this guy. Comparing him to the Bears (irrelevant) and trying to paint him with words like 'niche audiences at left wing campuses' Last time I checked, the guy got more votes from people in Republican states like South Carolina than any of the Republicans did! Makes sense that they are worried. Their party is finally coming to and end.

Check out this video. I will blow your mind (in the good way.)

YES, WE CAN!

This is what the Obama ad should be. If you haven't seen it - take a look now. It rips you apart:

Yes We Can!

<a href="http://www.webcastr.com/videos/music/yes-we-can-song.html">http://www.webcastr.com/videos/music/yes-we-can-song.html</a>
Q: What is the difference between the RNC and a turd?

A: The turd smells better.
Outstanding, maybe he can get the message out to the masses that it's time for "CHANGE", before Hillary can trick them to vote the same olde hypocrites back in. Hopefully America will not be fooled this time around and do the right thing and vote for the best candidate to lead us now.
CORRECTION: Domenico Montanaro incorrectly stated the words spoken by Obama in the advertisement.  In the ad, Obama says "The world as it is is not the world as it has to be."  Rhetorically, there's a big difference between the two, and one would expect a Political Researcher to get it right.

The whole ad reads: "I’m Barack Obama and I approve this message. We want an end to this war and we want diplomacy and peace. Not only can we save the environment, we can create jobs and opportunity. We’re tired of fear; we’re tired of division. We want something new. We want to turn the page. The world as it is is not the world as it has to be."
They hope so , anyway.
What was the RNCs message to save the world...I must have missed it.
The RNC dis-respecting the Kennedy name?

Too late, Ted did that when he left Mary Jo Kopechne to drown many years ago.  And MSNBC treats dear Ted like a king, what does that tell you about the values at MSNBC!

Only Obama would see any value in a fat drunk who regularly trades off the family name.
Well, Senator Obama doesn't have Rex Grossman as a campaign advisor, so I think he will be just fine.  Obama '08.  Why wait?
CORRECTION: Domenico Montanaro incorrectly stated the words spoken by Obama in the advertisement.  In the ad, Obama says "The world as it is is not the world as it HAS TO be."  Rhetorically, there's a big difference between the two, and one would expect political researchers/reporters to get it right.

The whole ad reads: "I’m Barack Obama and I approve this message. We want an end to this war and we want diplomacy and peace. Not only can we save the environment, we can create jobs and opportunity. We’re tired of fear; we’re tired of division. We want something new. We want to turn the page. The world as it is is not the world as it has to be."
This a surely one way of reaching out to people glued to tv sets ..especially in party good mood..costly but effective..depends on what you are paying for and what you are getting..I think its all been well thought of..after all this is history in the making.. And we are all a part of it..
This shows right here, that Obama will be you're best candidate when it comes to fiscal responsibilities and developing a strategy when needed the most, at the right time.  GO OBAMA!  Woof woof.
Wow! The HRC campaign is dissing the Bears.  (Where is da coach when we need him?)  She must be giving up completely on Illinois - where she grew up and where Obama out polls her by more than 2-to-1.

Let's watch this and think about the America we want: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY&feature=bz303

Gob bless America!
Yeah, bought and paid for by all the special interest money finally being reported by everyone but CNN
Today is all about football and not for unctuous fawning over some self-serving, swollen ego tripper who is sickeningly slick on delivery but incredibly shallow on experience.  OsamaObama, get the hell out of the way as we watch real leadership!
It'll score well with this superbowl audience member. The RNC doesn't speak for me.  I'm on Barak's team.
The RNC response is another welcome demonstration of the truth of what Obama is saying -- politics has become a game of cheap sniping at the expense of sensible discussion and ultimate truth, and Obama's approach is the only way to elevate our political discourse from the gutter where it has been running.
The RNC response shows just how dismissive they are of the American people.
This is why the Republican party is falling apart.  They don't want my type of person.  I do watch the Super bowl, and I also go to Star bucks.  I consider myself a Fiscal conservative, but they lost me when Reagan gutted domestic programs allowing thousands of mentally ill people loose on the streets instead of treating them.  Named Ketchup as a vegetable for children in need of free and reduced lunches.  Spent millions to lock up addicts instead of working to end their addiction.  Subscribed to trickle down economics by giving huge tax cuts to the wealthiest while at the same time running up the deficit.  Fiscal responsibility means not spending more than you have.  Deficits do matter.  People do matter.  Caring and having religious values or morals are not for Conservative Republicans.  Those same people who preach their Republican ideas would throw Jesus out like the Pharisees if he were to return today.  If the Republicans had stuck to the platform of Fiscal Responsibility, Common sense social programs, and the less government I would be a Republican today.  But I want them to stay out of our Bedroom, help our nation be great by taking care of the weakest among us, and learn to balance a budget.  Something they are incapable of doing.
Ok - good going Obama.

You needed to show your policy savvy - check.
You needed to put out an inspiring message - check.

Just one thing left to do for Monday, and I hope you guys have something lined up - reinforce that Superbowl ad with greater depth.  I hope you guys have got some big name endorsements up your sleeve and a soaring speech to follow.  Edwards, Pelosi, Gore - yes please!
It's a great audience for this ad and it'l opern up conversation. The more familiar he becomes to allof us, the less resistance we'll have to his vision and constructive objectives. We'll see.
Wow Rezko's money went a looooong way!
I didn't see the ad, but it had to play better than McCain's suggestion that we spend another 100 years in Iraq!
I hope this ad will let more people know about Obama. I don't want to see two big political families, like the Bushes and Clintons, control our county for so long, and "clear up" after each other. I'd like to see America going forward, not backward.
The RNC sounds a wee bit jealous, aye?
The RNC response to Obama's ad buy is another demonstration of the truth of what Obama is saying: that our politics have deteriorated into churlish, childish sniping and posturing, devoid of content.  The only readily-available remedy is to follow Obama and support his effort to divert our political discourse up and out of the gutter where it has been running.
I watched the Super Bowl and I was moved by the ad.  Whoever wrote the Republican resoponse should try a different approach.  Crossover Republicans and Independents who vote for Obama aren't "left-wing."
Overall,I think that the ad was great.  I also think that it was cool that it aired during the Super Bowl.  It wasn't an attack ad, it was positive, inspiring, and offered something new.
Go Obama!
This early empty attack from RNC will not work this time. The decietful era of Karl Roe is over.
It's interesting how the man who wants a "new" kind of politics is turning into the same old candidate...buying his way into the White House. Unfortunately for Obama, it doesn't work that way!
Is the RNC run by 19 year-olds?  The Bears?  They're going after the Bears?  If this is what the RNC considers clever or important, then the Democrats will have an easy time through November.  (And before anyone feels the need to remind me, I know the Bears are Sen. Obama's favorite team, and I remember the Monday Night Football ad before he announced, etc., etc., yadda, yadda, yadda.  The RNC response is still pathetic.)
The RNC is a joke !!!  Unfortunately, they can't point to the current administration and say anything positive. . . so let the smear campaign begin !!!  sure, the Obama ad may not do anything, but it certainly is better than having Bush give a speech to the country !!!!
I waited for the commercial and it did not dissappoint.  I wonder if it affected how anybody will vote
I'd like to thank the RNC for letting us know what type of attack they are laying out for Obama.  Considering that their field of candidates are 'Pie in the Sky', it doesn't surprise me that they are characterizing Obama in much the same way as Hillary has done.  But the problem with what Hillary did to Obama, instead of Defining him and ultimately shelving his candidacy, they exposed him to more public scrutiny, and now he's poised like the NY Giants against the supposed almighty NE Patriots.  What was once a 30 point lead in national polls is now a 4 point lead for Hillary, or for the poll's sake, a statistical dead heat.  We'll see Tuesday.
Know matter what Obama says or does there is no way he can ever run this country.He does not have the experience.Bill clinton is right buy saying Give Me A Break.Obama been up in Washington 2 years  and he said that i never got into Washington but he knew it needed a change.Well Golly Gee so does every one in this country know that.They are eager to see Bush leave.Obama would be another Bush in the White House.Bush was just a Pr man .Cheney is running the country.Who would Obama get to hold his hand.Michell Obama said that they are ready to take over Washington.Come on Ready!!!.Have you seen Obamas million dollar home on TV he got from the slum lord he was a lawyer for 5 momths.The slum lord even owns the lot next to it.There is no way that this country is ready for a Black to run it especialy one that all he has done is write a book and even did a lot of lying in it.We already have a lying President.Usualy a Govenor or even a well known Senator would run for president.Obama has not been up in Washington 2 years.remember he said he never got into washingto.what did he do those 2 yeaars SLEEP.


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