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Welcome to the Grid.  Click the issue below to see what ads are airing.��

VOLUME SEVEN � ISSUE 1: December and January, 2011

112th Congress

Government Spending

Mining

Lieutenant Governor

Community Service

Gun Control

Physician Assisted Suicide

State Senate

Energy and Environment

Healthcare

Religious Freedom

Mayor

By State4  

Alaska - Colorado - Connecticut - Illinois - Nebraska

New Mexico - New York - Rhode Island - Vermont - West Virginia

By Level  4

Federal �����������State���������Political

By Race  4

Lt. Governor����������� State Senate���� ������Mayor

During December and January, Kantar Media/CMAG tracked hundreds of new issue and political ad

campaigns on topics from Healthcare to Religious Freedom.Below are key ads from December and January.

Key Federal Issue Ads

112th Congress

Numerous groups are releasing print ads welcoming the 112th Congress. Many of the ads highlight the groups� involvement in a variety of issues, sometimes touting their accomplishments.

Energy & Environment

Elections are over, but energy companies continue to release ads. This month, BP and Citizens Energy are both on the air with new spots.

Government Spending

A new web ad sponsored by Taxpayers Against Earmarks is running on the Washington Times� web page criticizing wasteful government spending.

Gun Control

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has unveiled a new spot touting their mission: protect, promote, and preserve hunting and shooting sports.

Healthcare

Americans United for Life is running ads calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, and urging readers to sign a petition.

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Key State Issue Ads

Alaska

The Pebble Mine continues to be a major issue being debated in ads in Alaska. Groups for the mine are running ads showing how far away the mine will be from Bristol Bay, while opposition is countering those ads.

Connecticut

The Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) recently unveiled a string of 30-second spots urging legislators to cut state spending and get the economy moving forward again.

Nebraska

Citizens for Omaha�s Future and Omaha Forward are both on the air arguing for and against recalling Mayor Jim Suttle.

Rhode Island

The National Organization for Marriage is airing ad against the same-sex marriage bill encouraged by Governor Chaffe.

Vermont

The Vermont Center for Independent Living is relying on a former Democratic Legislator to denounce a proposed physician-assisted suicide bill.

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Key Political Campaign Ads

Lieutenant Governor

The Mississippi Lieutenant Governor race is just starting to heat up with the first candidate releasing ads.

State Senate

The special election for State Senate in Louisiana�s �Cajun Heartland� district 22 fired up the airwaves with the top three contestants all running on Conservative platforms.

Mayor

The Chicago Mayoral Democratic Primary has received national press coverage since Rahm Emanuel announced his candidacy � whether or not he will be appearing on the ballot still appears to be uncertain.

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Key Federal Issue Ads In Detail

                                    

112th Congress

Sponsors: Boeing; Coca-Cola Company; Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, Inc.; National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA); National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

Summary: Elections are over, but ads continue to be released. Multiple companies have been releasing print ads in DC opinion leader publications over the past two months welcoming the 112th Congress. Boeing highlights the 1.5 million Americans that work for or with Boeing, and the company�s suppliers in all 50 states in their ad. The ad also extends words of encouragement and well wishes to the new Congress. The Coca-Cola Company �welcomes the 112th Congress and looks forward to working with you to spark and sustain positive change for the American people,� in their print ad. The ad also touts the company�s work on nutrition issues, including revamped calorie information to the front of product labels and vending machines, and their efforts in being a more sustainable company. Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America also released a welcome ad highlighting the 300,000 members of the group, and explaining, �We look forward to working with you on issues important to our members, their customers, and Main Street America. The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) highlights their work with independent pharmacies, and the group�s number of employees in an ad welcoming the new Congress. The spot notes, �Independent pharmacies are the backbone of the Medicare and Medicaid Drug Benefits� and an economic engine in your community.� With pharmacies across the nation, the group urges members of Congress to, �When you�re back home, drop in to see us. We live where you do.� The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is congratulating and thanking specific freshman members of Congress who will give a voice to small business. In the coming weeks, we can expect to see many more of these welcoming ads from a variety of groups wanting to raise awareness in a positive light to their agendas. As more and more issues unfold, you can expect print ads to begin to target specific bills and sometimes specific legislators.

 

Community Service

Sponsors: United We Serve

Summary: Giving back to society is a value many Americans cherish, and in a recent 60-second spot, United We Serve is urging Americans to become more involved in community service. The ad explains you do not need money to give back, but instead can give your time to a variety of causes. The ad, narrated by the President, urges people to become involved in community service to �make a difference in the life of our nation.�

 

Energy & Environment

Sponsors: BP; Citizens Energy; American Petroleum Institute; Nuclear Energy Institute; American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity

Summary: The BP oil spill was months ago, but the company is on the air with a string of new ads encouraging tourism to the Gulf, and touting their clean-up efforts after the spill. In the ads, various business owners � from shrimp boat captains to hotel owners � discuss how BP fulfilled their promise to not only clean up the beaches and ocean, but also to financially assist anyone whose livelihood may have been threatened by the spill. With the economy still hurting, many families are struggling to pay the bills, a new ad from Citizens Energy explains. In the spot, Joe Kennedy praises Citgo Petroleum and the people of Venezuela for their generosity in working to create programs to provide heating assistance to the poor. The ad concludes by giving viewers who may be struggling to pay for heat a number to call because, �no one should be left out in the cold.� The American Petroleum Institute is on the air with an ad campaign touting the advancements in the oil industry. In a 15-second spot, the group explains advanced drilling from a single location enables an increase in energy production while decreasing the impact on the environment through fewer oil wells. The Nuclear Energy Institute just unveiled a new ad focusing on the benefits of nuclear energy - providing one-fifth of America�s electricity while not emitting greenhouse gases � for fulfilling energy demands sustainably, while reducing dependence on foreign oil. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity is back on the air with a new ad shining light on the importance and benefits of coal as a vital source of energy.

 

 

 

 

Government Spending

Sponsors: Taxpayers Against Earmarks

Summary: A new web ad is running on the Washington Times� web page that criticizes wasteful spending. The ad, sponsored by Taxpayers Against Earmarks, poses the question �$188,000 to promote cultural richness of hot air balloons? In this economy? Not on our watch!�

 

Gun Control

Sponsors: National Shooting Sports Foundation; Speak Up

Summary: The mission of the National Shooting Sports Foundation is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. The group promotes participation, protects shooting sports from the fees of Capitol Hill, and strives to preserve traditions and firearm freedoms for citizens and future generations, explains a recent ad released by the group. In the wake of the Arizona shootings, Speak Up has come on the air raising awareness about school shootings. �In four out of five school shootings the attacker tells somebody about it first,� points out the ad before encouraging students to call the group�s hotline to anonymously report weapon threats at school.

 

Healthcare

Sponsors: Americans United for Life; Americans United for Change; Americans for Stable Quality Care; Virtue Media

Summary: With the start of the 112th Congress comes the promise of a conservative undoing of President Barack Obama�s policies. Part of this overthrow is sure to be a tightening of reproductive rights, and Americans United for Life is running ads calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, and urging readers to sign a petition. Virtue Media is back on the air with an ad displaying multiple images of 3-D sonograms in an effort to demonstrate �an unborn baby is a human life.� Americans United for Change is on the air with a new ad explaining The Affordable Care Act provides Americans with the same health protection Congress gets, but Republicans want to take away that protection, putting big insurance companies in charge. The group urges viewers to contact Congress to ensure you get �the same health insurance protections they get.� The group Americans for Stable Quality Care hit the airwaves with a new 15-second ad this month. The ad touts healthcare reform for lowering out-of-pocket expenses, cutting waste and paperwork, and reducing the deficit by $143 billion.

 

Religious Freedom

Sponsors: Council of American Islamic Relations

Summary: The Council of American Islamic Relations is on the air with a new ad explaining, �The ability to practice our religion, if we don�t have our rights at the heart of American freedom, you don�t have your rights.�

 

 

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 Key State Ads In Detail                                        

 

Alaska

Sponsors: Alaska Coal Association; Pebble Partnership; Alaska Wild Salmon Association; Renewable Resources Foundation

Summary:As a state rich in natural resources and wildlife, Alaskans frequently see ads regarding energy and environmental issues on the airwaves. The Alaska Coal Association is on the air with a 30-second spot promoting clean coal technology. The ad notes, �Alaskans want affordable power. And we want to protect the environment,� and clean coal technology can do both. Modern day coal plants have cut key emissions by 90%, and government and industry are investing billions in technology that will reduce it to zero emissions, the commercial explains. The proposed Pebble Mine is a very hot-button issue in Alaska right now, and two groups are currently on the air with new ads. The Pebble Partnership unveiled two new spots featuring a woman who decides to hike from the Pebble Mine site to Bristol Bay to demonstrate how far away the two places are. Pebble Mine has come under fire from opponents who fear it would have a negative impact on Bristol Bay, particularly the salmon. In the spot, the hiker determines it would take about a week to hike from the mine to the bay. On the other side of the issue, the Alaska Wild Salmon Association is firing back, pointing out what they believe to be major flaws in the Pebble Partnership ads. In the counter spot, the group points out that the streams in which the hiker crosses on her journey are the very streams where the salmon of Bristol Bay come to spawn. Salmon do not spawn in the bay, and many of these streams would be dug up by the mine, explains the ad. The spot concludes, �These ads are offensive to Alaskans and to the salmon. Too many empty words. Too much risk. It�s time to stop the Pebble Mine.�Renewable Resources Foundation is also on the air denouncing the proposed mine, because of the negative impact a large-scale copper and gold mine would have on the waters. The ad notes, �Every large copper mine in the world has destroyed the water surrounding it. The proposed mine would sit on top of the waters feeding Bristol Bay, the last great salmon fishery on earth,� and �92% of the wild salmon consumed in America comes from Alaska.�

 

Colorado

Sponsors: Colorado Wildlife Council

Summary: Sportsmen provide nearly all the funding that manages, protects, and conserves Colorado�s amazing outdoors and wildlife, explains the latest ad from the Colorado Wildlife Council.

 

Connecticut

Sponsors: Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA)

Summary: The Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) recently unveiled a string of 30-second spots urging legislators to cut state spending and get the economy moving forward again. In one ad, residents voice their concerns about the biggest issues facing the state: out-of-control spending and high taxes. �It�s scary. The deficit that we have in this state is very scary,� says one resident about spending, while another explains, �I think we pay way too much in taxes as it is.� In an effort to reach legislators with residents� concerns, the ad concludes, �Let Hartford hear your voice!�

 

Illinois

Sponsors: Illinois Is Broke

Summary: In an effort to close a $13 billion budget deficit, Illinois just passed the largest tax increase in state history, raising the income tax rates 67% and a 45% increase in the corporate tax. As these tax increases make national headlines, groups like Illinois Is Broke are taking notice. The group just launched a new web ad utilizing a visual of Illinois� favorite son, Abe Lincoln. In the ad, an empty pocket Lincoln stares out at readers as text scrolls across the screen explaining, �Lawmakers just stuck you with a 66% income tax increase. Illinois still has $140 Billion in debt related to retirement benefits for public employees. Had enough? Join our campaign for REAL budget reform.�

 

Nebraska

Sponsors: Citizen�s for Omaha�s Future; Forward Omaha

Summary: Two groups are on the air in Omaha arguing for and against recalling Mayor Jim Suttle. Citizen�s for Omaha�s Future launched an ad campaign aimed at pointing out the ethics violations employed by Suttle�s campaign including busing homeless people tovote, and paying some in cash. The group criticizes Suttle for higher new restaurant and bar taxes, higher wheel taxes and increased property taxes �all to pay for Suttle�s SUV, staff pay raises, and expensive union contracts.� On the opposite side of the issue, Forward Omaha is arguing the city already elects a mayor every four years, and recalls should only be used in extreme circumstances. Because recalling Mayor Suttle �could cost us nearly a million dollars Republicans, Democrats and the Omaha World Herald all say �no�. The group urges, �instead of voting again and again and again, put an end to the nonsense, and prevent two more elections� by voting no.

 

New Mexico

Sponsors: Energy Advances New Mexico

Summary: The Energy Advances New Mexico just unveiled a new ad campaign explaining �energy is being redefined as different sources merge to power our lives now and in the future.� Oil and natural gas production in New Mexico is beneficial, because it contributes nearly $1.5 billion to state funding for hospitals, highways, and schools. With three of the nation�s top 100 oil fields in the state, and as home to America�s 4th largest supply of natural gas reserves these resources are being responsibly accessed through advanced technology to help reduce dependency on foreign nations. Oil and natural gas resources not only power our way of life, but continue to advance the state of New Mexico through funding, an ad explains.

 

New York

Sponsors: Committee to Save New York

Summary: The Committee to Save New York is on the air with an ad simply asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to �fix Albany.� The group highlights high taxes and high unemployment in the ad, but refrains from taking a side on the issue.

 

Rhode Island

Sponsors: National Organization for Marriage

Summary: At the encouragement of Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chaffe, state lawmakers will introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage. The National Organization for Marriage is on the air with an ad against the proposed bill. The ad explains 80% of Rhode Islanders want the chance to vote on marriage just as voters in 31 other states have done. The ad concludes by urging viewers to �Call Lincoln Chaffe and tell your legislators that getting 36% of the vote is no mandate to redefine marriage for 100% of Rhode Island.�

 

 

 

Vermont

Sponsors: Vermont Center for Independent Living

Summary: Soon, a bill may be reintroduced to the Vermont legislature addressing physician-assisted, or prescribed, suicide. The bill, which is extremely similar to Oregon�s current laws, is drawing harsh criticism from opponents like the Vermont Center for Independent Living. The group recently hit the airwaves with an ad campaign featuring Lynne Cleveland Vitzhum, former Democratic Legislator, and mother to a son with Cerebral Palsy and Autism explaining society�s treatment of people with disabilities puts �those people at risk of being convinced to let themselves die so they no longer burden somebody else,� which �has nothing to do with quality of life, or the quality of the end of life.�

 

West Virginia

Sponsors: Affiliated Trade Construction Federation

Summary: The Affiliated Trade Construction Federation is on the air with an ad explaining the benefits to the Marcellus Shale, one of the largest gas reserves ever discovered. In the spot, a member of the union explains the Marcellus Shale will mean thousands of jobs for West Virginia workers. �We just want to see it done right and protect our water supply. This opportunity will pass us by if our leaders don�t act now.�

 

 

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Key Political Campaign Ads In Detail                            

 

State Senate

Sponsors: Simone Champagne Campaign; David Groner Campaign, Fred Mills for Senate Committee

Summary: The special election for State Senate in Louisiana�s �Cajun Heartland� district 22 fired up the airwaves with the top three contestants all running on Conservative platforms. All three of the candidates are critical of the recent decision by President Obama that expands the offshore drilling moratorium. Simone Champagne, David Groner, and Fred Mills are all under the general consensus that big government is responsible for killing job growth through federal programs such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. An ad by Simone Champagne claims, �a true Conservative, Simone Champagne believes that to create jobs, you must get government out of the way.� The only predominant difference between the candidates is that Fred Mills is a Pro-Life advocate. Two of the candidates, Simone Champagne and Fred Mills, are Republicans, while David Groner is running as an Independent. Note: The January 22nd election results announced that Fred Mills won the State Senate position.

 

Lt. Governor

Sponsors: Friends of Billy Hewes

Summary: The Mississippi Lieutenant Governor race is just starting to heat up with the first candidate hitting the airwaves. Billy Hewes recently released his first campaign ad introducing himself and his family to the voters. In the up-beat 30-second spot, Hewes is seen driving across the state with his family �telling people about [his] plans to bring good jobs to Mississippi.� With an August 2nd primary, we can expect to see much more coming out of this race.

 

Mayor

Sponsors: Gery Chico for Mayor; Chicago for Rahm Emanuel

Summary: The Chicago Mayoral Democratic Primary has received national press coverage since Rahm Emanuel announced his candidacy. Emanuel has released five ads in his bid for office, spending approximately $2.4 million on television advertising. With the recent court ruling that Emanuel was not eligible to run for office based on residency requirements, Emanuel took that ruling to the Illinois Supreme Court, where a stay - essentially overruling the lower courts ruling � was ordered, and Emanuel�s name is back on the ballot. It is unclear whether or not the Supreme Court will hear the appeal at this time, and the candidates appearing on the ballot in next month�s primary still seem up in the air. Emanuel has focused heavily on education, gun control, and public safety in his ads. On the other side, Gery Chico is also airing ads in preparation for the Democratic Primary. Chico has been emphasizing the importance of small businesses in society, and touting his records on education reform, public safety, and job creation in recent ads. In an effort to reach Latino voters, Chico has released ads in Spanish, as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CMAG�s Breakdown of Words in U.S. House Ads

Summary: CMAG created these graphics by transcribing and exporting every television advertisement aired for the U.S. Congress in 2010. We broke down the graphics into those aired by Democrats and those aired by Republicans. The ads used to create these graphics are sponsored by candidates, parties, issue groups and, occasionally, private citizens. Words in these graphics become bigger and bolder the more frequently they appeared in ads.

 

At CMAG we are still playing around with this rich data set to show the most compelling display of our data. Keep checking back for more as we delve into other breakdowns and explore which issues drove the 2010 elections. Click here to view these on CMAG�s blog, The Spot.

 

Republican Breakdown:

 

 

Democrat Breakdown:

 

Images Created with Wordle.net

 

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Ads in this issue of The Grid first aired during 12/1/2011 - 1/25/2011.

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