Obama airs 30-minute ad on major U.S. TV networks

Source: Xinhua | 10-30-2008 09:24

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama aired a 30-minute television ad on major U.S. networks at prime-time Wednesday, a move that has little precedent in modern politics.

The ad was broadcast on 8 p.m. E.T. (2400 GMT) on CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Fox, BET, TV One and Univision.

The CNN declined to run the spot, and talks between the ABC and the Obama campaign fell apart.

Media expert Evan Tracey said the ad, costing at least 3.5 million U.S. dollars, is an evidence "that the Obama campaign has more money than there is ad time left to buy,"

The Obama campaign reported last week that it had raised 150 million dollars in September.

The Democrat has outspent his Republican opponent McCain by a huge margin.

Between the time the two candidates clinched their party's nominations in the Spring and October 25, Obama spent more than 205 million dollars on TV ads.

McCain spent more than 119 million dollars.

The McCain campaign launched an ad attacking the Obama ad, saying: "Behind the fancy speeches, grand promises and TV special, lies the truth: With crises at home and abroad, Barack Obama lacks the experience America needs."

Editor:Zhang Pengfei