Dean to begin airing 30 minute infomercials in Iowa this week

[pruner]

If it's good for selling skin care products or vacuum cleaners, why not a presidential candidate. Democrat Howard Dean will begin airing 30-minute informercials later this week on Iowa television.

The infomercial is an edited version of Dean's town-hall meeting held earlier this year in Sioux City, Iowa. It will be shown in all media markets in the state.

Unlike 30- and 60-second commercials, the infomercials gives Dean a chance to speak at length on a range of issues. Campaign aides argue that activists likely to participate in the Jan. 19 caucuses would welcome an infomercial in which a candidate has the time to provide specifics on policy.

Publisher Steve Forbes used that technique in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000. Businessman Ross Perot used lengthy campaign spots in the 1992 election to spell out the details of his plan to solve the federal budget problems.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3344150,00.html

[ALago1]

1. I remember ...

...when Perot was running for president he ran a series of infomercials detailing his positions.

I was pretty intrigued. Then again, I was only 14 years old.

[rucky]

9. Flip Charts! n/t

[slinkerwink]

2. that's awesome!!!

I think that's cool!

[Ficus]

3. That's one less

spot that Tony Little can buy to sell the Gazelle Freestyle. So good.

[Demobrat]

4. WHOA.

That's brilliant. I wonder how much it costs, though, to get one on before midnight.

[madfloridian]

5. Who cares, we will help him pay for it.

Hubby and I are nowhere near maxed out yet, and most are not. I love the campaign where I can feel a part.

[Demobrat]

6. Oh, I know. So will I.

My only concern is that it's on when the most people will see it. I never see infomercials during prime time, at least not here in Cali. Maybe in Iowa it's different.

[HFishbine]

7. Will there be

charts and graphs?

[Demobrat]

8. Good question. I don't know.

Somehow I can't picture it, though.

[killbotfactory]

10. It ain't a real political infomercial without charts and graphs.

so I hope so.

[Larkspur]

11. Good move on Dean's part

This will give him a chance to refute and rebuke Gephardt's and Kerry's distortion campaign against Dean.

But Dean will have to come across as tough and intelligent but witty when refuting his opponents attacks.

[mandyky]

12. Trippi's a genius!!

And I love Howie!! First at everything and willing to try unconventional stuff...