Republican John McCain has launched his first television ad in Florida, a must-win state already leaning his way despite a $9 million advertising blitz by Democrat Barack Obama.
McCain and the Republican National Committee held out until about one week ago when a joint fundraising committee dropped about $1.1 million in the state, according to media analyst Evan Tracey, chief operating officer of TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG. Tracey said Obama has recently narrowed his advertising campaign to Central Florida, a bastion of uncommitted voters.
''There's no reason to spend the money if they can't move the needle,'' said Tracey, who pegged Obama's investment since June 20 at $9 million. "Florida may be kind of frozen right now . . . If there's a late break of undecided voters there's not much they can do with advertising dollars right now.''
McCain's new ad, which is running in Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach and Jacksonville, claims Obama and the Democratic leaders in Congress will raise taxes and thwart offshore oil drilling. ''It's not change; it's more of the same,'' the ad says. ``Obama and his liberal allies. Not ready to lead.''
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