Romney Plans Major Ad Buys in California, Other Super Tuesday States
Mitt Romney plans to buy TV ads in California and other Super Tuesday states, contradicting earlier reports that he was avoiding a costly campaign on Feb. 5, when 21 states hold Republican primaries and caucuses.
As Romney seeks to topple John McCain’s momentum coming out of his win in the Florida primary and a host of big-name endorsements, he said in Long Beach Thursday that he’s authorized a seven-figure advertising buy.
He said that even though he can’t flood the airwaves in every state, “given the number of states going at the same time, this is a time where our message to the main purveyors of information in the world is the best way for us to get our message out.”
Romney’s advisers had given him several options, ranging from spending $1 million for ads to $7 million. It was not immediately clear how much money Romney was willing to spend - or whether the multimillionaire would dip into his own bank account again. He already has poured at least $40 million into his presidential campaign.
The campaign will determine shortly which states it will target beyond California.
McCain aides said he, too, is preparing to run a high volume of commercials on national cable channels and in key states, but Romney will likely be the first GOP candidate on air in the Super Tuesday states, the broadest battleground of the primary season.
Romney’s first ad in California, though, actually passed over McCain in favor of attacking Democrat Hillary Clinton, criticizing her for lacking experience.
But as the mega-contest looms, Romney and McCain clashed sharply at the Wednesday night debate in California, trading accusations on topics ranging from taxes to their positions on the Iraq war to conservative credentials.
Romney has been trying to cast himself as more conservative than McCain. He claimed the Arizona senator was outside the mainstream Wednesday night and even accused McCain of “dirty tricks” and old-style Washington politics for repeating a charge that Romney supports a timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq. Romney insists that is not true.
The debate Wednesday night further defined the contest as a two-man race, but McCain is already leading in the polls in several delegate-rich Feb. 5 states, including California.
Mike Huckabee is also trying to stay competitive in the race. He and Ron Paul participated in Wednesday night’s debate alongside Romney and McCain.
Romney had indicated on Wednesday that his campaign was not trying to purchase television advertising time in any of the states on the Super Tuesday calendar. Instead, his plans called for campaigning in California and other primary states, while making organizational efforts primarily for caucus states.
That still holds, though Romney now will supplement his campaigning with advertising.
His travel schedule reflects his campaign targets — if not his advertising goals.
The campaign was planning to focus on areas with heavy concentrations of Romney’s fellow Mormons: California, Arizona, and Utah, seat of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Romney, trying to become the first Mormon president, will attend the funeral of the church President Gordon B. Hinckley on Saturday in Utah.
He also planned a stop Friday in Colorado, followed by visits to Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri, key Midwestern states. In Missouri, a classic swing state, Romney enjoys the strong support of Gov. Matt Blunt.
Also on the tentative schedule were Tennessee and Georgia, Southern states where Romney has shown strength. Romney was likely to bypass delegate-rich New York and New Jersey after former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani dropped out of the race and endorsed McCain.
Romney’s home state of Massachusetts also votes Tuesday. His campaign tentatively planned to receive the Super Tuesday returns there, though a strong result was not assured.
In contrast to Romney, McCain plans to rely largely on momentum and the “free” news coverage that comes with it by holding rallies and news conferences in California and big winner-take-all delegate states, including New York and Illinois. McCain was picking up the endorsement of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday, an event sure to garner loads of publicity.
His aides say he would make a modest and targeted TV advertising push in some states.
With winner-take-all states his first priority, McCain’s tentative travel schedule calls for him to travel coast to coast for general-election style rallies in Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.
FOX News’ Carl Cameron and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
I read on this site or maybe Lucianne.com earlier today that McCain was a few feathers short of a whole pigeon last night. That was right on. His demeanor was that of an angry, old, tired bulldog and it shook me up. I was supporting Guliani for a long time; liked Mitt, Hunter and Fred also. Next thing I know, overnight it seemed, everyone was gone. I started looking into Mitt very seriously and after the debate last night, I am convinced he is a conservatives only chance. The shots that McCain took at him last night seemed the result of a desperate man who has spent way too many years in Washington, learning to lie. Mitt being a Mormon should not be an issue. It makes as much sense as the women who tell me they are voting for Hilliary because she is a woman. Now THAT is scary. Do whatever it takes to keep that evil out of our House again. Like previously mentioned, can you imagine Bill back in our House for 4 years with nothing to do? I cannot believe McCain is ahead in this - it makes no sense if you read all the negative comments about him - I’m seeing 95% or better negative! And you don’t like Mitt spending his own $ to fight McCain?? It takes money to win and constant exposure. I’m thankful he HAS his own money, as I sure couldn’t help him out much on my salary. Please support Mitt! McCain is obviously unbalanced and if he wins the nomination, Hillary will turn on him and eat him for breakfast. She will be the next POTUS if McCain is the Republican choice. I like Huckabee too, but he doesn’t have a real chance and votes for him are taking them away from Mitt. Use your head people.
No free (media) rides or Washington insider endorsements for Mitt, thanks to one state.
Please vote for Mitt Romney! Donate what you can, for the sake of the party and country. http://www.mittromney.com
We can make the difference strength is in numbers!
GO ROMNEY
If John McCain (name should be “Juan McClinton”) is nominated, I will not be voting in the general election except for other issues on the ballot.
Go Mitt!!!
McCain/Huckabee would be a disaster for the Republican party. The two most liberal Republicans in the race team up to destroy the country. If it isn’t obvious to Huckabees supporters by now, wake up. The only reason he is staying in the race is to keep you from voting from Romney, thus ensuring a McCain win. In return, McCain has undoubtedly made him some promises. Whether he keeps them or not will be interesting to see. Of course, right now it looks like McCain has made a lot of promises to a lot of different people (Charlie Crist first and foremost). Is that the type of guy we really want leading our country?
I will never vote for Hillary and can’t support Obama either based on his record (most liberal senator in the country) and political agenda. If the alternative is a old, angry man McCain/Huckabee ticket, I will vote independent or not vote at all.
Religious doesn’t mean conservative. It means superstitious living on the whimsy of mystical fanatics who haven’t the courage to trust the capabilities of their own mind; so, how in the world would someone like Suckabee ever be able to assess someone like Putin with reason? Suckabee is a fraud who is hanging in to get his pal Juan McLiberal elected. Good luck. Most of the conservatives I know have decided to sit out the general election and let Hillary win if McNutty wins the nomination.
come on people. Who acted the most presidental during the debate? I watched 2 little children quibble over who said what or did this or that. I have no love either of these gentleman, but I’d like to once here an actual policy idea discussed. Not talking points, or “If elected, I’ll do this”.blah blah. Let’s here some substance. Such as how you would accomplish a goal. I give an A to Huckabee for staying above the schoolyard rumble, and even (shudder) a passing grade for Ron Paul.
A vote for Mitt Romney is now a vote for John McCain. Romney is a liberal, proved he couldn’t buy the election, and is now $50 million poorer. Mike Huckabee is still a viable conservative alternative. If he were ever allowed to compete on a level playing field, Huckabee would trounce all comers. He showed that again last night with his closing statement about Ronald Reagan.
Since when does being a prisoner of war qualify you for president. The man is too old we need a president who will present himself as a statesman, not a liberal democrat in disguise, Family is very important also, Mr Romney . has a wonderful family and the same wife he started with. He has stuck beside her in sickness and in health, more then can be said of McCain Trust is very important and McCain doesn’t know the meaning of trust, ethics, class, temperament, integrity etc. People look at the facts, don’t decide because someone else endorses McCain, think for yourself, do what is right, the future of our country depends on it.
Hey Mark,
So what he spends $40,000,000 dollars or what ever amount he spent. He spent his own money that he earned along with contributions!!! What is not conservatism is spending the peoples money on pork projects and handing out social services for illegal immigrants! That is not conservatism!!! You seem to have a problem with people that have that kind of money and spending for a cause he believes in… because if you had that kind of money… who knows what you would spend it on??? At least Mitt is spending it on issues with principles and values that he cares about to becoming the president of the United States.
McCain and the media that call McCain their “Maverick” lets them decide who their pick is by running his free media campaign, becuase your unintelligent to know for yourself who you really want. The media supports him now, but when the run off starts between the two party… the Liberal media will leave him high and dry and their true colors of vote democrat comes out.
Gooooooooooooo Mitt!!!
If I hear mccain say “I am proud of my record” one more debate I think I shall be sick