by John McCormick
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is going on the air for the first time in South Carolina with a 60-second biographical radio ad that his campaign says will run statewide on 36 stations.
The ad placement follows his start of radio and television advertising in the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa in late June. His campaign has not yet run any ads in New Hampshire, where the first primary is expected to be held in January.
Obama's campaign declined to say how large the radio buy is, although campaign spokesman Dan Pfeiffer said it was a "significant investment."
Obama needs to boost his efforts in South Carolina, where the Democratic primary is set for Jan. 29. A poll of South Carolina adults by CNN/Opinion Research Corp. conducted last week found Sen. Hillary Clinton leading with 39 percent, followed by Obama with 25 percent.
Imagine cool jazz playing in the background, as you read the script for "It's Time," as provided by the campaign, below:
Announcer: It’s time. It’s time for Barack Obama.
Obama: I know what you know. Despite all the progress that has been made, we still have more work to do. We have more work to do when more young black men languish in prison than attend colleges and universities across America.
Announcer: It’s Barack Obama time. A Christian family man, community organizer, civil rights lawyer, courageous legislator, and US senator who’s told the truth as a soldier for justice.
Obama: We have more work to do when the black incidents of HIV/Aids & diabetes, and every other illness is multiple times higher than the rest of the population. We’ve got more work to do when it takes a hurricane and bodies floating through a street for us to recognize race and poverty in this country.
Announcer: The time is now. Barack Obama for president.
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Comments
Doubtless Mr. McCormick, or some other Tribune reporter, will favor us with the text of the campaign ads of the other 16 presidential candidates, the ones not named Obama?
Posted by: Bruce | July 24, 2007 4:32 PM
Barack has his work cut out for him down there. If the South is the Bible belt, Sowcalina (rolls off the tongue easier this way) is the buckle. It took a huge effort to get the confederate flag from flying over the state house there only to move it to the front gate. Some of the African American legislators are staunch Hillary/Bill supporters and will have nothing of this Yankee who "will bring down the ticket." I think Sowcalina will be a big surprise for Hillary/Bill, though, and may even be a big surprise in the general election if Barack is the nominee. Why? Because the demographics are changing. A lot of the old die hard crackers and red necks are dying off, and more progressive independent people are moving there, thanks to the end of segregation and the relocation of some important industries to the area.
Posted by: GW | July 24, 2007 5:41 PM
OBAMA TALK AND TALK SO CLVER AND GLIB TONGUE-NO SUBSTANCE AND NO EXPERIENCE-SORRY IM NOT BUYING OABAM- GO BACK TO THE SENATE WILL YOU.STOP FOOLINMG AM,ERICAN PEOPLE YOU DONT DO ANYTHING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Posted by: rossypi | July 25, 2007 1:23 AM
Barack,skip NH or SC or anywhere you want,Hillary kicked your butt in the debate...Re-think history when it comes to terrorism 101...
Good-Bye-Baracky...you are-OUT-Of-Your-League compared to President B.J. and his wife.....HILLARY!
She's like a man's--man!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | July 25, 2007 1:55 AM
Come on did you even read what he just said? We have more work to do when the black incidents of HIV/Aids & diabetes, and every other illness is multiple times higher than the rest of the population. We’ve got more work to do when it takes a hurricane and bodies floating through a street for us to recognize race and poverty in this country. Barack is the best person for the job. How do you know Hillary isnt all talk? I mean look at the history has it changed since the Clintons were in office for black people??? Nope it just gotten worse so I dont want to go back to the 90's Im voting for Obama all the way! go OBAMA!
Posted by: lavelle | July 25, 2007 1:47 PM
Come on did you even read what he just said? We have more work to do when the black incidents of HIV/Aids & diabetes, and every other illness is multiple times higher than the rest of the population. We’ve got more work to do when it takes a hurricane and bodies floating through a street for us to recognize race and poverty in this country. Barack is the best person for the job. How do you know Hillary isnt all talk? I mean look at the history has it changed since the Clintons were in office for black people??? Nope it just gotten worse so I dont want to go back to the 90's Im voting for Obama all the way! go OBAMA!
Posted by: lavelle | July 25, 2007 2:13 PM
Thank you for sharing. Love it: a soldier for justice or his appeal to peaceniks globally. To the commentor: Senator H. Clinton voted to violate a UN Charter that made the US global war criminals. Those that enjoy killing innocent woman and children, will of course support her.
Personally, I feel she should be disqualified from running due to bringing to the White House an ex-Pres of shady reputation; one that was impeached by one half of Congress.
People make a lot of her experience pointing to close promixty to a Pres. That would mean a man that pardoned friends and family for crimes such as selling stolen gov property would have her ear.
Senator Obama wants to end that kind of government corruption. He also has more elected experience than she does.
He made sure Iraqi war Vets did not have to pay for meals at VA hospitals while recovering from war injuries.
Posted by: alyce | July 25, 2007 2:25 PM
Senator Barack Obama absolutely blew Hillary out of the water in the last debate. She VOTED to go into Iraq, she did not think at that time about getting out of Irag. And now she is trying to win an election on her postition of getting us out of Iraq. Also, as far as meeting with political leaders in other countries, she is just showing more of the same politics that we have now, a leader afraid of conversation, afraid of looking like she is being used for "propaganda", because of her own insecurities and fears of dealing with the people from those countries. Barack, stand strong, stand with your head up high, because you have the ability and confidence to communicate with ALL of the people of the world. Vote for Hillary if you want many of the same behaviors of our current administration, Vote for BARACK OBAMA if you are ready to change politics as usual and actually get something done.
OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT 2008
Posted by: Theresa | July 25, 2007 3:46 PM
watching the youtube/CNN debate..i was more convinced than ever before that Barack Obama is truly what we need. I switched my party from Democratic to Independent and this Indy here is for Obama all the way. Lets rock the vote. Barack Obama in '08
Posted by: Ahmed | July 25, 2007 10:30 PM