Obama ad will have live portion

UPDATED: Wednesday night's Barack Obama primetime ad will contain a live segment near the end of the telecast.

The much-discussed special will cut live to an Obama rally in Florida, where the Democratic candidate is campaigning today with Bill Clinton. It's not clear if the former president, who is joining Obama for the first time on the campaign trail, will share the stage during the segment.

Though going live is technically more challenging and potentially more risky for Obama should something go awry, the plan will likely result in higher viewership than a mere taped telecast. The move also further explains why the Obama camp insisted on having all its ads run during the same 8 p.m. time period. 

The special -- titled "Barack Obama: American Stories" -- marks the first time in 16 years a presidential candidate has purchased a national address before the general election.

The telecast should provide a unique test of the electorate's current interest in Obama's messaging. Campaign ads, after all, are typically considered a nuisance best avoided rather than Must See TV -- especially in swing states, which have been bombarded with every flavor of political advertising in recent weeks.

But given the heavy interest in the election in general -- with convention speeches and the debates managing to set Nielsen ratings records -- curiosity tune-in could be high. NBC, CBS, Fox, MSNBC and Univision are among the best known outlets carrying the telecast.  The Obama campaign has spent an estimated $3 to $5 million  on the ad buys. Obama will also be a guest on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" tonight.

Ratings for paid programming are often not released to the public, and Nielsen was still mulling on Tuesday whether to announce the ad's viewership. Given the heavy media interest, a release seems likely.

The question is, what's a good number? Ross Perot's 1992 specials averaged about 11.6  million viewers. Obama's convention speech was viewed by about 38 million viewers. Broadcasters average about 7 to 9 million viewers in those time periods.

But none of those seem like proper comparisons -- Perot's speech was only on two networks and were part of a series of informercials; Obama's speech was 100% live and concluded several days of convention coverage, and comparing entertainment programming to an infomercial is problematic. Unless Obama's viewership is spectacularly high or low, attaching a relevant meaning to the audience measurment could be difficult. 

UPDATE: The Obama campaign provided The New York Times with a trailer from the taped portion. The footage is described as--

"...heavy in strings, flags, presidential imagery and some Americana filmed by Davis Guggenheim, whose father was the campaign documentarian of Robert F. Kennedy. As the screen flashes scenes of suburban lawns, a freight train and Mr. Obama seated at a kitchen table with a group of white, apparently working-class voters, Mr. Obama says: “We’ve seen over the last eight years how decisions by a president can have a profound effect on the course of history and on American lives; much that’s wrong with our country goes back even farther than that.”

The Times added that the content will highlight the stories of four American families and the challenges they face.

UPDATE II: Barack Obama infomerical released -- VIDEO

UPDATE III: TV critics praise Obama infomercial

Previous posts on this topic: "Pushing Daisies" creator Fuller hopes Republicans save his show ... CNN rejected Obama ad; Fox News not asked ... Thoughts on "The Obama Show" ... Obama buys half-hour of network primetime.

Other takes: Washington Post -- "Axelrod: Obama TV Show to Focus on 'Where He Wants to Lead'  ... Stephanopoulos: "However the rest of the time you might see other people, like a Warren Buffett or a Colin Powell, and other people the Obama campaign calls "validators" to give testimony on why Americans should vote for Obama." ... Lisa de Moraes -- coverage rundown ... Politico: "Smart politics or risky overkill?"  ... TVWeek: "Will viewers tune in?"

Comments

[N Waff]

========================================
= OBAMA - THE GLOSSY MEDIA REMAKE OF A SOCIALIST EXTREMEIST
========================================
It's becoming clearer and clearer that Obama is part of a group of extremists, socialists, anarchists and, fundamentally, has a problem with upholding the constitution. He has virtually no real experience. His experience in the Illinous senate show indicision. And the record he hangs his hat on as "community organizer" consists of either no accomplishements (Chicago Annenberg Challenge accomplished nothing) or support of radicals (ACORN, Ayers, etc). And his abortion record clearly supports infanticide. The thought of him being president for the next four years is truely frightening.

[No Bama]

To hear Obama's abortion extremism

http://www.citizenlink.org/dailybroadcast/A000008504.cfm

http://abortionno.org

[blipnews]

If you read the DRUDGE REPORT multiple times a day, you should try blipnews.com An aggregator of Drudge's stories--allowing you to sort stories by most recent, relevant tags, and also subscribe to instant SMS headlines...

http://www.blipnews.com

[Kaned]

So, is he being charged Prime Time RATES??? Or did they give him a "Liberal" discount? (Take that as you will.)

[John D]

How many steak knives will Obama sell us during this informercial? Ron Popeil won't be happy about this.

[charlie griffin]

Obama is truely destined for stardom...only it will be on next seasons episode of " Dancing with the Stars"!!!!

[NorthCoastLine]

The airwaves will be awash with PROPAGANDA for 1/2 hour Thursday night. I don't have to watch yet, so I'll wait until I'm required by the state to do so.

[Obama Owns You]

Ha... deal, jealous losers. America is excited about electing Barack Obama. With expanded majorities in both houses of congress, he'll have an overwhelming mandate to take this country in a new direction.

Those who voted for George W. Bush owe the rest of this country an apology. Cry losers. It's being taken back and you won't see political strength for a very, very long time.

[Jason]

This is before he is thinking to be elect. He have those muslims, and G. Wrights etc. Around him.

What will be when he will sit in white house? Can you imagine how he will drive down our country? (If he didn't so far).

People! Think like this; can you tell me why I should go back and fight in iraq or anywhere for our country, when you see what a veteran gets back?

A guy who never fought for us, he never voted anything in congress, he never came up with something during his terms. NO!

Why should we vote for him??

Does anyone know who he is? Does he have a birth certificate? (He was born from 4 people on the train station... Believe me).

He is a pure MUSLIM! And he will make sure that iran should be able to attack us.

Just don't cry when you vote for him, you can change your mind till it gets too late.

Don't go for a celebrity, go for someone who fought for us!!!

[Jason]

This is before he is thinking to be elect. He have those muslims, and G. Wrights etc. Around him.

What will be when he will sit in white house? Can you imagine how he will drive down our country? (If he didn't so far).

People! Think like this; can you tell me why I should go back and fight in iraq or anywhere for our country, when you see what a veteran gets back?

A guy who never fought for us, he never voted anything in congress, he never came up with something during his terms. NO!

Why should we vote for him??

Does anyone know who he is? Does he have a birth certificate? (He was born from 4 people on the train station... Believe me).

He is a pure MUSLIM! And he will make sure that iran should be able to attack us.

Just don't cry when you vote for him, you can change your mind till it gets too late.

Don't go for a celebrity, go for someone who fought for us!!!

[nick]

It's obvious that Obama still cannot close the deal with most American's.

[Ralph]

I wish I could take back my early vote for this bozo! The TRUTH about Obama is just now starting to come out and IT IS SCARY!

[partysupplies]

The broadcasts seem like a desperate move to me. If Obama is so far ahead in the polls, why take such a risky move...launching one of the biggest propaganda media assaults in the history of U.S. Presidential compaigns? This move has a good chance of back-firing in the minds of independents who view abhorrently large campaign spending as worrisome.

[Jim]

If Mr. Obama gets elected hang on to your wallet.

[partysupplies]

The broadcasts seem like a desperate move to me. If Obama is so far ahead in the polls, why take such a risky move...launching one of the biggest propaganda media assaults in the history of U.S. Presidential compaigns? This move has a good chance of back-firing in the minds of independents who view abhorrently large campaign spending as worrisome.

[katogill]

I don't know, he's just throwing away millions and saturating the airwaves with his message. It sounds like Big Brother to me. It's strange and worrisome.

[katogill]

Can't you see why he wanted people to vote early because he knew the bad stuff about him was going to come out this week.

[JD]

What a bunch of inbred losers on here. Obama is a guy who grew up poor, went to the best schools in the country, excelled at everything he's done, and he's a young black guy schooling the hell out of a rich old white guy in the race for the Presidency. I work for a hedge fund and make well over $250k per year and I'm voting for Obama because unlike you inbreds I like smart people with depth and judgment. He has the overwhelming support of well educated and high paid people for a reason. I bet none of you make close to what I make, you guys probably make less than $250k per year and you'll be getting bigger tax cuts under Obama than under McCain. But instead you'd like to pay more in taxes to keep giving guys like me more money. Thanks, I appreciate it. This is win-win for me, if Obama wins I'm proud and the country will prosper, if McCain wins the country will continue deteriorating but because of inbreds like you who barely have a pot to piss in but don't mind paying higher taxes I'll get to keep more of the seven figures I make.

[ok]

WOW JD, those are insightful words coming from an educated man!! Calling all people who make less money then you and who are voting for McCain inbreds! Thats what I love about you democrats, no matter where you are and how much you make, you still act as if youre an uneducated fool!! I'll tell you what, you can keep your big salary and your hedge fund job, because if for some stupid reason, this unexperienced and underqualified man dupes America into winning, our military funding will be cut by 40%. With an inexperienced person in the White House and no money backing the military, you'll see Russian/Chinese tanks rolling through your neighborhood, and they don't care how much you make

[Nathan Clark]

You guys and girls seem a little bought into the propaganda of the Right Wing Nut jobs. Muslim? HE IS A CHRISTIAN!!! What does it matter anyways????

[T.J. Hawkins]

The only change you will get with this two-bit used car salesman named Barack Hussein Obama is the jingle jangle in your pocket - the change that is left after he confiscates your hard-earned money to fund his Socialist agenda!

[Brian Specia]

Don't believe the media or the polls when it comes to "That One" - the McCain/Palin ticket will win the White House. America will come to its senses.

[BigTom]

I was never going to vote for Obama in the first place. But the fact that his infomercial is delaying the start time of the World Series (Im from philly) makes me so angry. This guy is a joke. Well, atleast we will all get free government handouts!

[RAltiere]

Never in history has such an unqualified, unvetted candidate made his or her way this far in a Presidential election. Bill Clinton can say whatever right now - but he is also the one who said "Barack Obama has the political instincts of a Chicago Thug".
For nearly two years Obama has preached the sermons of Wright, Phelger and Farrakhan - just neatened up a bit.
His ecnomomic politices are wrong - never did trickle up work - and his Washington crowd - wow!
OBAMA/BIDEN/PELOSI/REID/FRANK/DODD/SCHUMER/ACORN, etc.
AMERICA WAKE UP!
McCain/Palin 2008

[Big Dog]

Yeah JD,
We are all a bunch of inbreds who don't make as much as you so we are somehow stupid. Wealth is not a measure of intelligence. How many doctors make less than you do? Would you go to a rich hedge fund manager if you needed surgery?

Our soldiers make far less than you do and they are the best and brightest in this country. I would rather spend time with our military than with jackasses like you who helped bring down the economy of this country and then begged for a bailout.

JD is a great example of the problem. Obama and people like JD think you are not smart enough to manage your money and lives your lives. We can see how well Congress manages money, should they be deciding what we get to do with ours? The idea of spreading the wealth is moronic and Socialistic and though people like JD will vote for Obama they will have the means to avoid the taxes you and I will pay. Don't believe for one moment that the tax increase will not affect you. There are not enough rich to support the country and all business taxes are passed on to consumers.

This veteran will be voting for John McCain. He might not be the best speaker and he might not be perfect but he believes in country first and does not worry about stroking his ego. And he made the difficult decisions when no one was looking. Obama only made them when his radical friends became a liability.

Illegals will prosper and you will pay under Obama:
http://www.onebigdog.net/obama-will-give-amnesty-and-you-will-pay-for-it/

[Dumbfarmboy]

JD..
How's that Hedge fund thing working out. Returned all of your capital yet? Democrats do one thing well...whine. If he wins (which I suspect he will) you will be whining. If he loses you will be whining (how can that be given all of the acorn activity?) I also work as a GP in a hedge fund, I can tell you with certainty the election of BO will only accelerate your hedge fund losses unless you are a total short. Get a clue, nothing is free, even printing money has a cost...and that's the only thing your candidate has the backbone to do...so get ready for the most volatile decade you will ever see in your life if he is elected. Lots of money to be made, but I sincerely doubt wiht all of your intellect, you are able to see beyond your rose colored glasses.

[jen]

Look at how the Obama campaign is has the media under their control. The campaign has strong armed news outlets like the LA Times into covering up evidence of Obama's dealings with terrorist. This is a crime, Americans deserve to be able to see that video..We will see freedom of speech leave our nation if Obama gets elected, he will probably have a nation wide truth squad that will crack down on anyone who speaks against him..Scary!

[D]

This is the best thing that could happen to McCain. The more exposure to Obama's radical ideology, the better. People are starting to get sick of being spoon fed this man 24-7. As if 30 more minutes, when I hear his name 18 hours a day, is going to make me want to vote for him. I can't turn on sports, a cooking show or sit down to watch Nickelodeon with the kids without hearing something about Comrade Obama. I have faith that the American people will make the right choice and reject this extremist. Just remember that he has spent more on his campaign than all other Presidential candidates in history COMBINED and is proposing almost $1,000,000,000,000 in NEW spending, including handing checks out to 40% of Americans that pay ZERO taxes. He could confiscate ALL of the money of the top wage earners in this country and he still couldn't pay for his proposals. You would have to be Helen Keller to not see what is happening here. Do the math America! You WILL pay more taxes if you work so that he can distribute your wealth where he thinks it needs to go.

[JP]

http://www.freedomandlibertyalways.org/

[Db]

JD's point, however awkwardly phrased, is that for many of those on the right, the reasons you cite for voting seem to be in direct contrast not only to your own financial interests but also the reality of the situation. I'm going to hazard a guess that most of the individuals on this board do not make more than $250k. If you do, awesome. You should consider voting for McCain if you're scared about your taxes.

For those making under $250k, however, you claim to be voting for McCain because you want to be able to keep more of your money. But it has been shown over and over that Obama's tax plan will give you three times as much money back as McCain's plan. McCain hasn't argued against this - his argument boils down to tax cuts for the supply side. Both sides of this coin are reasonable - tax cuts for the middle class means more money in the hands of those who don't have as much and tax cuts for the wealthy means, as is argued, keeping more jobs. It is totally reasonable to buy into one philosophy/plan or the other. But the argument that many of you are making for McCain is that HE will lower taxes for you. That's not his plan.

You have two choices. Obama will give a middle class tax cut and raise taxes on the rich. McCain will continue to tax the middle class the same and will give tax cuts to the rich. Those are the choices. So if you believe in supply-side economics and that tax cuts are best targeted to those at the top, than McCain is definitely the right choice for you. But if you make under $250k and it is more important to you to hold on to your own money, the only choice is Obama.

Again, I'm not arguing for one side or the other. Moderate is my middle name. I post only to encourage you to vote consistent with the reality.

[Char, NC]

Obama really thinks that America is so imperfect that all her people are just a bunch of idiot! So much so that he is betting on running an informercial selling the same old stump speech and non record promises for 30 minutes, hoping the idiot will drink it all in. I've seen many infomercials on TV but I haven't bought anything yet.....i'm not about to watch this infomercial and hand over my vote for a socialist rebellion.

I also find it perplexing that here is obama touting the redistribution of wealth and go and spend 5 million dollars to get himself on dedicated TV slot whle asking his supporters to take the day off work for him. He seems to be putting himself above all else while asking people to give him more. And I thought this election is about people voting into office someone who will work for them...not the other way around. What a bonehead!

[dumbfarmboy]

DB,
Then I guess you saw the Lieberman comment yesterday about the number now slipping to $150k for being capped to receive tax benefits. That follows BO's comment on Saturday that the number was now 200. Seems like they are already sliding down the "I said what I meant at that time, but now is a different time" road. Beleive me...only those who dont work will end up seeing any benefit under BO and Biden. People on this board are smart enough to know (JD excepted) that reagardless of their pledge today, the reality of their economic policy is unable to sustain the promise of their "hope"

[Anti-JD]

JD, it's your elitist comments that further the case against Barack Obama. I could possibly benefit from Obama's tax plan, but I would NEVER support anything as un-American as asking anyone to pay over half their paycheck to the government so that Comrade Obama can hand out checks to people who already pay NO taxes. You've heard about Karl Marx over the last few weeks and it's not scare tactics. Marx said, "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs." This is EXACTLY what Obama is proposing. Look up the facts. CNN has it, MSNBC, or any other liberal media outlet of your choice all have this info there for your reading pleasure. Look at how Obama plans to take from the wage earners in this country and hand it out like a modern day Robin Hood. Don't take FoxNews' word for it. Maybe you need a double shot of espresso in your latte to WAKE UP!! As Obama starts closing the gap between the richest and the poorest in this country we slowly make the move toward socialism. Not in America you say.......socialism only happens somewhere else.......no one stuffs ballot boxes in America.......propaganda only happens in Russia? Think again. We are staring it in the face. The bailout was socialist, welfare for the rich or the poor is socialist, and requiring businesses to offer health insurance is socialist. This country is moving in the wrong direction and Obama's ideology will be the straw that breaks the camel's back, especially with a majority Democrat House and Senate and nothing to stop him. You'll wake up one morning and say, "Where the hell did my country go?"

[Susan]

Does anyone not see the arrogance? Even his children think he is a moron and wanted to know if their cartoons were going to be interrupted! I say we all boycott the one and no one turns their tv set on. Spread the word to all the talk show hosts, your friends and neighbors NOT to watch. Even if I liked the guy I don't want to see him squawking 24/7. What better way to prove the pollsters wrong then to not even watch. Wake up America before it is too late.

[md]

Disgusting. Not only did Obama break his promise on campaign funding. He is paying for this propaganda with donations that the media is now reporting are largely untraceable...that many speculate are coming from foreign sources.

It is just one thing after another with this unvetted, completely unqualified candidate. Socialist ideas, questionable ties to shady characters and lying about those associations, refusal to release any records on himself, ignoring promises, untraceable donations. What's next?

I have faith that Americans will see through the propaganda and make the right choice. Vote McCain/Palin!

[Carl]

When i was growing up 45 years ago one of the first things i learned was about communism and Karl Marx. Now look at Obama and what we have running for president. The man cast just like Karl Marx. Never in history has such an unqualified, unvetted candidate made his or her way this far in a Presidential election. Bill Clinton can say whatever right now - but he is also the one who said "Barack Obama has the political instincts of a Chicago Thug".
For nearly two years Obama has preached the sermons of Wright, Phelger and Farrakhan - just neatened up a bit. And shame on Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton can say whatever he wants tonight on that informercial, but we all rememmber what he said just 4 short months ago. To quote ole Billy boy...."He (Obama) played the race card on me". But oh my how times have changed. Poliitics makes strange bedfellows. No matter what ole Billy boy says tonight we know he is lying through his teeth. So my advice stay off the stage billy boy you have no relevancy....

[Middle class American]

My wife and I have 3 kids and make less than $80k. I would certainly benefit from Obama's on paper tax plan. Who cares? I don't want my hard work in life belittled by Barack Obama's handout welfare checks. I have never been on welfare and I am not about to start now. I will get 3 jobs if I have to to make ends's meet at my house. I don't need some snake-oil salesman promising another handout or some cure-all to my problems. Hard work is the foundation of this country. No one gave me a house, no one gives me free health insurance, no one pays my bills except me. This Obama clown can take his Change and shove it up his ass. I will never believe his smooth talking propaganda. To watch a war hero pro-American like McCain slip behind Senator Government in the polls frankly pisses most real Americans off and makes them want to vote for McCain even more. If you have any self-respecting decency in your life, you only have one choice in this election, like him or not........John McCain.

[john]

Bill Clinton live with Obama. Guess Barack kissed his butt. Or NOT!

"Bill Clinton says Barack Obama must 'kiss my ass' for his support'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2211812/Bill-Clinton-says-Barack-Obama-must-'kiss-my-ass'-for-his-support.html

[Walnut]

I personally will be doing my part to offset Acorn's "Get out the Vote" ballot box stuffing next Tuesday. I plan to rent a van and pick up seniors at nursing homes to be able to perform their civil duties and cast their vote for John McCain. Meanwhile, over in Browntown, Acorn will be promising liquor, cigarettes, and free taxi rides to vote 72 times for Barack Obama. Even with the dishonesty of leftists freedom will prevail.

[Viva Obama]

ALL YOU HATERS WILL BE FORCED TO BOW DOWN WHEN THE CHOSEN ONE IS ANNOINTED KING OF THE FREE WORLD. WHEN OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE LIBERATED IN OUR HOMELAND THEN YOU WILL KNOW TRUE POWER!!!! VIVA OBAMA!!! NOTHING CAN STOP THIS AVALANCHE NOW!!!!