Friday, February 01, 2008

See, We Are Important*

*-- apparently for Democrats only.

In the last few days -- really yesterday -- it's clear that Massachusetts won't be left completely behind in the swarm of Super Tuesday.

TV ads for both Clinton and Obama are up during news times. Obama apparently is dropping $250,000 on a Super Bowl ad. It had better be good. I've seen at least two Obama ads. One is a basic issues ad, one all but changes his last name to "Kennedy." Clinton's appear to be simply issue ads.

Clinton is also doing some smaller work, as if she was running for state rep or governor. Save Fitchburg Mansion has received two robocalls from Camp Clinton, and a mailer yesterday. From what I can remember, it's the first mailer ever from a presidential candidate I've gotten. Ever.

Anyway, this all leads back to the whole Massachusetts in Super Tuesday thing, and it's nice to be getting attention. I'm not sure it will hit the ad saturation of New Hampshire, although there are significantly fewer candidates. That said, an Obama ad just popped up on "The Price Is Right," so maybe we'll be tired of ads by Tuesday.

Clearly, while the Democratic race is up for grabs -- and is the fifth-biggest Dem primary of the day (I read that somewhere, but I forget where. That's we get for electing so many Democrats) -- the Republican race is generating little energy here. I haven't seen any ads in the last few days from either candidate.

It makes sense. The Democratic race seems to be the Main Event, and will likely not only bring in a lot of Dems, but will also draw heavy unenrolled numbers. That probably leaves a core of Republicans in that primary, and you have to think they are going to vote for Romney. Right? Polls last week had him firmly ahead, and with other big fish in the sea next Tuesday, it would be silly for McCain to devote (precious) resources to a state he probably won't win.

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