Iowa, Get Ready for Senators Instead of Santa

IOWA, GET READY FOR SENATORS INSTEAD OF SANTA
[SOURCE: AdAge, AUTHOR: Ira Teinowitz]
Christmas has been canceled in Iowa. Well, not precisely, but the Grinch has definitely swooped into the state in the form of Democrats, Republicans and independents. TV spending on the 2008 presidential campaign is climbing so fast in the Hawkeye State that between now and the Jan. 3 primaries it threatens to overwhelm outlays by holiday-related marketers. As of Oct. 22, spending in Iowa by four presidential hopefuls alone has reached a combined $8.7 million, according to TNS Media Intelligence's Campaign Media Analysis Group. Already, two candidates -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- each have spent $2.6 million in the state, equivalent to the total Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry heaped on Iowa during 2004 when he won the Democratic presidential nomination. Bill Richardson, with a $1.9 million Iowa outlay, isn't far behind. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton spent only $1.6 million so far, but has been steadily increasing spending. Why the surge? Political-ad experts cite the especially strong importance of Iowa's caucuses this time around; the need to introduce little-known candidates to voters early; and the lack of campaign-finance restrictions. Strong fundraising and few limits didn't hurt. Not many candidates this time are accepting federal financing, which means they escape caps on spending.
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