Vets for Freedom uses CA to garner national attention
By James B. Gerber, PolitickerCA.com ReporterVets for Freedom has purchased $2.2 million of air time in California to launch an anti-Barack Obama ad campaign aimed more at garnering national attention than at swinging the state away from the Democratic presidential nominee, the political action committee’s chairman told PolitickerCA.com.
Cpt. Pete Hegseth, chairman of Vets for Freedom, acknowledged that California is not one of their "target states," but hoped the week-long ad buy would spark national interest in the group’s message.
PACs are restricted by law from promoting a particular candidate, but Vets for Freedom has spent millions airing anti-Obama spots in several battleground states, including Ohio, Michigan and Colorado.
California, which has not been competitive at the presidential level for 20 years, does not usually get much attention or money from campaigns or independent groups.
"California was a huge untapped media market for us," Hegseth said. "Thankfully, coverage in California has a propensity to become national coverage, and could help us cut through the noise in this cycle."
California is a prohibitively expensive state for ad campaigns, but "it is worth the risk," said Hegseth, who is open to extending the ad buy in the Golden State.
"This is in many ways a test case for us," he said. "It was off the beaten path. We're going to look at the effect on public opinion, the kind of reaction we get as an organization, and we'll decide whether it's worth playing more in California or whether we should shift resources elsewhere.
EARLIER on PolitickerCA.com:
Contributors
Wally S. Edge
This week's Winners & Losers. | CLICK HERE >
Wally N. Edge
And now for something completely different:
Acting on behalf of the Almighty Eternal Creator, who is holding sole ownership to His ... >
Alex Benes
Can’t run again? Fire away!
On the cusp of an emergency session of the legislature, termed-out Assemblyman John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) took the ... >
Rob Tornoe
To view a larger version of this cartoon, click here. >
| Politicker INTERACTIVE | |
 |
Lawmaker Profile Follow the funding of your representatives |
 |
270 to Win See how Obama got to the magic number |
Top Tags
Most Active Stories
- Lawmakers push Thompson for Interior Department head
- In CA-04, McClintock lead now at 592 votes over Brown
- Prop. 8 lawyer: ‘No one would be able to stop' recall attempt of justices should high court invalidate ballot measure
- Huber trails by 1,000 in AD-10, no change in CA-04 vote totals
- Harman, Reicher candidates for Obama administration posts
- California environmentalists celebrate Waxman's victory
- Blakeslee aiming at state senate seat in 2012
- Police question O.C. GOP executive director based on false lead
- Spokesman says governor intends to finish term but remains eager to help incoming president
- Silicon Valley CEO steps down, fueling rumors of Obama administration appointment
- Alan Keyes files suit over Obama citizenship question
- Sheehan claims her campaign against Pelosi is being sabotaged
- Former L.A. Mayor crosses party lines, endorses Obama
- CA Nurses Association airs McCain/Palin ad in battleground states
- Huffman named co-chair of high-profile Assembly Environmental Caucus
- Newsom acknowledges 'failures' of San Francisco's 'sanctuary city' policies
- Miller says government must next turn its attention to propping up sagging 401K and pension plans
- Bay Area transportation chief under consideration for Obama Administration post
- Wolk launches TV ad over Aghazarian per diem collections
- Brown reaches multibillion-dollar settlement with Countrywide over predatory lending practices
Quote of the Day
"I am honored by the vote of the Democratic Caucus. We are at a unique moment and have an opportunity that comes only once in a generation. I will work with all parts of our Caucus and across the aisle to deliver the change that the American public expects us to deliver."
-- U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman on his selection as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
Recent Press Releases
- November 5, 2008
- October 29, 2008
Syndicate
VFR has some 'splaining to do ...
VFR: Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) gained notorious attention when he compared Max Cleland, a decorated triple amputee from the Vietnam War, to Sadaam and Osama. His vicious attacks were called "reprehensible" by McCain. And who is Saxby Chambliss? He got 5 deferments from the draft -- yes, five! -- after which he got a 1-y medical deferment for an old football injury he discovered when his deferments ran out ...
VFR, you list Saxby as one of the people you support. When you have a demonstrated chickenhawk like Saxby who now supports putting other peoples' kids in harms' way and who got there by impugning the character and courage of a decorated brother, why should we give you any more credence than other veteran organizations when it comes to seeking support for your programs?
Bud Lee
Post new comment