“As the New York Times reported off CMAG data, $235 million in negative ads about the healthcare law aired from its enactment on March 23, 2010 through June 17, 2012, compared to just $69 million in positive ads about the law, for a ratio of more than three to one,” writes Elizabeth Wilner of Kantar Media. “Exacerbating this spending disparity, most of the ‘anti’-plan advertising has taken place on local spot in markets that are politically crucial in 2012, whereas the bulk of the ‘pro’-plan advertising has taken place on either national TV or in politically non-critical markets.
“A review of these lists provides a clue as to why Democratic supporters of the plan are reluctant to advertise about it. Of the four Democratic candidates … among the top pro-plan advertisers, three were on the ballot in 2010 and lost. Sens. Russ Feingold and Blanche Lincoln lost their seats, and Rep. Joe Sestak lost his bid for the Senate to GOP Rep. Pat Toomey — who is the only candidate to make the list of top 10 advertisers against the plan. The only candidate on the list of top advertisers in favor of the plan who remains in office is … the President.
Here are the CMAG numbers behind Abby Goodnough’s Times story.
-Top 10 markets for anti-Obama-plan spending: Orlando, $8.2M; Philadelphia, $7.9M; Tampa, $7.8M; Pittsburgh, $7.6M; Denver, $7.3M; Cleveland, $5.9M; Boston, $5.5M; D.C., $4.7M; Phoenix, $4.5M; Las Vegas, $4.4M
–Top 10 markets for pro-Obama-plan spending: national network, $30.4M; national cable, $15.6M; Los Angeles, $4.9M; San Francisco, $1.2M; Philadelphia, $1.0M; Las Vegas, $904K; Sacramento, $678K; Fresno, $646K; Milwaukee, $637K; Orlando, $636K; Little Rock, $602K; San Diego, $580K
H/t to Mike Allen of the Politico Playbook.
