[redsniper]

Yeah, politicians use those kinds of ads because on most people, on the general population, they work.

[Polpolion]

Yeah, politicians use those kinds of ads because on most people, on the general population, they work.

I dunno, I'm kinda under the impression that the kinds of people that would find political ads convincing (by any means) aren't the people that go out and vote in any respectable number. I think people are 9999999 times more swayed by family and friends and no 30 second TV, internet, telephone, newspaper, or radio commercial is going to convince them of anything they weren't already thinking. Granted, I have zero statistics or evidence to present in either support or opposition to my claim and I'm too lazy to look it up, but that's what I learned in my AP Government class and it seems legitimate sounding enough.

[SypheDMar]

What about people who don't really follow politics and still vote?

Vote straight party tickets and are so set in their ways this won't matter. These are the people who normally vote. Nothing will change there.

Not always. Depends on the state. Ohio changed its tickets multiple times. For this swing state, it depends on who's on the ballot, and who they expect to win. This election seems pretty close right now.

I remember battuta saying that according to some statistics that ads don't matter, but awhile ago a Democrat won a seat in New York (can't remember what kind of seat), but they believed it was influenced because of a commercial of an old lady being pushed off a cliff, meaning that Republicans are against healthcare. I remembered that place being traditionally Republican too.

[Klaustrophobia]

the democrats love to use old ladies in attack ads on the republicans.  i've seen several this year.  of course, those are NEVER by the official campaign, it's by some OTHER group campaigning on their behalf. 

[NGTM-1R]

Not always. Depends on the state. Ohio changed its tickets multiple times. For this swing state, it depends on who's on the ballot, and who they expect to win. This election seems pretty close right now.

I remember battuta saying that according to some statistics that ads don't matter, but awhile ago a Democrat won a seat in New York (can't remember what kind of seat), but they believed it was influenced because of a commercial of an old lady being pushed off a cliff, meaning that Republicans are against healthcare. I remembered that place being traditionally Republican too.

It's funny but there's nothing in your post that actually refutes what I said. Or even seems to engage with it directly. Maybe you should find something?

[karajorma]

Maybe you should be more polite.

[NGTM-1R]

Maybe you should be more polite.

That was polite.

I suppose I could add a please, but really, I didn't go "what the hell are you talking about, that's not related to what I said at all", which would be the impolite version. If an invitation to come to relevant point and salvage the post isn't polite compared to a complete dismissal...that's your problem.

[NGTM-1R]

As an interesting aside to the general discussion here, apparently a recent Gallup poll suggests campaign fatigue has already set in, with a 60 percent response to the campaign being too long already, and 49 saying it's gotten annoying. Apparently there's not much difference cross-party.

I'm quoting those from memory so they might be off. Possibility of backlash?

[SypheDMar]

Not always. Depends on the state. Ohio changed its tickets multiple times. For this swing state, it depends on who's on the ballot, and who they expect to win. This election seems pretty close right now.

I remember battuta saying that according to some statistics that ads don't matter, but awhile ago a Democrat won a seat in New York (can't remember what kind of seat), but they believed it was influenced because of a commercial of an old lady being pushed off a cliff, meaning that Republicans are against healthcare. I remembered that place being traditionally Republican too.

It's funny but there's nothing in your post that actually refutes what I said. Or even seems to engage with it directly. Maybe you should find something?

I quoted your post because you mentioned that straight ticket voting makes ads not matter (I fail to see a connection), and I pointed out that a swing state as important as Ohio doesn't use straight ticket voting. You could simply google it, but here's a link: http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/elections/straight-ticket-voting-states.aspx

As an aside, I wasn't interested in what you said, nor do I have an intent to refute anything. I was mostly responding to the thread. If battuta was here however, I'd ask him to elaborate on why spending doesn't matter.

[NGTM-1R]

I quoted your post because you mentioned that straight ticket voting makes ads not matter

Ah.

That's not it. I was quoting someone else about people who don't pay attention to politics but vote anyways. There's more context to it then you apparently saw.

These people comprise about 30% of the population, vote every time, vote straight party tickets, and never waver. They're a known factor. They actually compose the majority of voters in most elections.

[karajorma]

If an invitation to come to relevant point and salvage the post isn't polite compared to a complete dismissal...that's your problem.

Ah, the I wasn't as rude as I could have been therefore I wasn't rude defence. Classic.

[Nuke]

i dont care about the issues everyone seems to talk about. we got a pro healthcare candidate out of the last election and we still dont have a healthcare system i can exploit and get free **** from. and no matter who we get were gonna keep sticking it to the terrorists. the economy is a sinking ship no matter who you put at the helm. no the issue that motivates my voting is quite a different one. i vote for the guy who i think has the best shot at starting a nuclear war.

[Aardwolf]

Yeah, we know already. Save yourself some time at the keyboard and just put it in your signature.

RE: effectiveness of political ads (and being 'immune' to them): I think one of the biggest strength of ads is that they can bring up big scary issues to introduce doubt, and even if that doubt is unfounded, people are too lazy to do the research.