WP: On Nov. 2, GOP Got More Bang For Its Billion, Analysis Shows

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A35062-2004Dec29?language=printer

In the most expensive presidential contest in the nation's history, John F. Kerry and his Democratic supporters nearly matched President Bush and the Republicans, who outspent them by just $60 million, $1.14 billion to $1.08 billion.

But despite their fundraising success, Democrats simply did not spend their money as effectively as Bush. That is the conclusion of an extensive examination of campaign fundraising and spending data provided by the Federal Election Commission, the Internal Revenue Service and interviews with officials of the two campaigns and the independent groups allied with them.

In a $2.2 billion election, two relatively small expenditures by Bush and his allies stand out for their impact: the $546,000 ad buy by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and the Bush campaign's $3.25 million contract with the firm TargetPoint Consulting. The first portrayed Kerry in unrelentingly negative terms, permanently damaging him, while the second produced dramatic innovations in direct mail and voter technology, enabling Bush to identify and target potential voters with pinpoint precision.

Those tactical successes were part of the overall advantage the Bush campaign maintained over Kerry in terms of planning, decision making and strategy. The Kerry campaign, in addition to being outspent at key times, was outorganized and outthought, as Democratic professionals grudgingly admit.

[Dickie Flatt]

1. I could have told you that weeks ago

[skippythwndrdog]

2. No shit?

Who would've thunk it? Is Captain Obvious around here somewhere? I can't believe that people get PAID for this shit.

[Dover]

3. Yeah, they didn't pay enough people to do their dirty deeds...

like the media, pollers, Blackwell and others who were in positions to get the job done no matter what. That costs a lot of money and heavy duty promises.

[darkism]

4. Dear Washington Post:

Bush lost. Get over it.


...and stop trying to make up reasons to justify this theft.

[jdj]

10. never heard "just sixty million" before...

wow.

[sugarman]

5. This is commercial...

hey everyone....

realize this.\

This article has nothing to do woth reality

I've worked on DC with some of the most powerful Repuke! propoganda machines to learn how to better the Dem machine...

this is a commericial for the propagandists who control DC

The agencies which are mentioned in the article work for both traitorous DLC Dems and repubs...

this article is essentially promoting them


this is an article which is trying to maintain the establishment so that the Dems to elect a DNC who adheres the est. philosphy

Folks there is a lot of money in running campaigns...and there are many who would rather maintain there piece of pie than actually win elections...

That;s why Dems have not won over 50% of the popular vote in over 30 years...

[Kolesar]

6. I recall the GOPs in Ohio used traditional organizing, not electronic

...TargetPoint-style processes. They got voter lists through the BOE and had operatives steal church-member lists. They then developed phone trees and other traditional organization using the volunteers that they had. People were contacted and got mail to ensure that they would show up to vote.

I don't get your last sentence.

[The Zanti Regent]

7. Whoreshington Post loves Massa Bush

Hitler and Stalin never had the asskissing that Bush has.

[salin]

8. Hello.... Kerry et al didn't have access to the vast right media

echo chamber (rush, hannity, orielly and a gazillion local wannabes) that echoed everything said by the bushites ... of course they got a lot more bang for the buck... its called the hot air talk radio/talk tv effect...

[Gyre]

9. Can u say "prima facie"?

What is it about journalism that allows them to restate the obvious and repackage it to appear like it's a novel observation? What was it about the "election" results that left any question about who ran a "better" campaign? Do I need this dipshit to rehash this debacle?

Answers: 1) Non-regulated, non-accountable, non-professional occupation, 2) Nothing, 3)Not really.

Ignominious Death to mainstream "journalists".

Gyre

[Supersedeas]

11. Swiftboat Liars and TargetPoint add up to outthinking the Kerry team

Sad case for journalism.