First Read has a report on the ad blitz in South Carolina:
Twenty-six political spots -- of 75 total ads by our count -- ran during the early evening local news broadcasts from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm and from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Automotive ads were second (13). Of the candidates, Thompson ran the most ads with five; Romney and Paul had four each; McCain, Huckabee, and Clinton ran three each; while Obama and Edwards ran two a piece.
During the 5:00 to 5:30 pm newscast, six of the 21 paid ads were political (in order of appearance): McCain, Thompson, Edwards, Clinton, Paul, Romney.
From 5:30 to 6:00 pm, five of 18 paid ads were political: Thompson, Obama, Paul, Huckabee, Romney.
From 6 to 6:30 pm, the ads ramped up. Of 18 spots, half were political: Thompson, Edwards, McCain, Huckabee, Obama, Paul, Clinton, Romney, Thompson.
From 6:30 to 7:00 pm was Nightly News, so there was no local advertising. From 7:00 to 7:30 pm, the local news was back. Six of the 18 ads were political: Huckabee, Thompson, Clinton, McCain, Romney, Paul.
NOTES: In the name of…: Each of Huckabee's ads were his "Christian Leader" one. Clearly, this is the one he thinks will play best here... Thompson urges viewers/voters to, "Remember, our rights come from God, not government."... Even Paul's ads invoke God, showing heavenly images of floating through clouds as the sun breaks through, while an announcer says, "America has stumbled…God gave us freedom. Our founding fathers gave us the Constitution… America has hope. Ron Paul.". Paul also has a clever ad touting that he has the most donations from the military, but frames it as, "Ron Paul is the choice for THEIR commander in chief. The ad is something Lindsey Graham alluded to Thursday on the trail as "propaganda." The ad introduces Paul as "a proud veteran" with a close up of a stout-looking soldier saluting and stars and stripes floating all over the screen….
Carolina on my mind: McCain's ad mentions South Carolinians who are fighting… Thompson talks of his conservative credentials (no amnesty, pro-life) and mentions that the South Carolina Citizens for Life has endorsed him... Edwards, a native son, runs his "Mill" ad with images of South Carolina and his parents.
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