print By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY
Published November 03, 2011
What a difference four years makes.
A story by Bloomberg News notes that GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney hasn't spent money yet on TV ads, compared with dropping $11 million by this point in the 2008 campaign. That's according to an analysis by KantarMedia/CMAG, a firm that tracks political advertising.
Ken Goldstein, president of the firm, surmises Romney can hold back because the former Massachusetts governor is already known in early states such as Iowa and New Hampshire. Plus, Herman Cain's recent troubles gives Romney another reason to stay off the air.
"Every day that the news cycle is consumed by something else is a day that he doesn't have to advertise," Goldstein told Bloomberg.
Romney had about $15 million in the bank at the end of the July-to-September fundraising period, less than rival Rick Perry. The Texas governor has started to spend some of the $17 million he has in the bank on ads in Iowa and New Hampshire.
The Iowa caucuses are Jan. 3, followed by New Hampshire primary a week later.