The Nielsen Co. has released statistics on TV advertising in Florida.
The report spotlights the extent of the media campaign Mitt Romney ran there for his second-place finish. From March of last year through the first part of last week, TV spots for the former Massachusetts governor totaled 4,475.
The comparable number for John McCain: 470. All of McCain's ads were broadcast in January. Romney's total then: 1,392.
Romney had the 2007 advantage of being flush with cash, while McCain's campaign was virtually tapped out.
And even as McCain's financial situation has improved, Romney has maintained a big edge, in part by funneling an unknown (but presumably hefty) amount of his personal fortune into his campaign.
Rudy Giuliani, despite long ago keying on Florida as the cornerstone of his White House bid, was nearly dark in the state until December, when his campaign aired 189 spots.
But he flooded the market in the first 22 days of January with 2,878 ads.
A lot of good it did the now-former candidate.
If not Thompson, Paul?
Who's a self-respecting conservative to go for in the GOP presidential race? Could it be, maybe, perhaps, a certain Republican-libertarian from Texas?
That's one question perplexing California state Sen. Tom McClintock, possibly the second-most-famous California Republican currently in office, after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
McClintock created a stir two months ago when he endorsed Fred Thompson -- who dropped out after not catching on with voters.
While McClintock hasn't won a statewide contest (he's run for governor, lieutenant governor and state controller), he knows his way around GOP primaries.
Now McClintock is mulling his choices.
And it comes down to the basics: "Who will respect our Constitution, defend our borders, and reduce the burdens of government on our people?" McClintock said.
"If I were to vote today, I probably would be casting a vote for Ron Paul.
"I'm not voting today."
Iowans had fun!
At last, the news we've all been waiting for.
A new University of Iowa Hawkeye Poll just out has discovered that fully 86% of Iowans "had fun" during their recent caucuses. Isn't that wonderful?
According to a university news release: "Despite the chaos of a record turnout, long lines and crowded rooms, Iowans had fun at their caucuses on Jan. 3."
