Selling Romney

Published Oct 02 2007, 02:24 PM by David S. Bernstein

CNN reports that Mitt Romney has aired 10,000 television ads since February, mostly in Iowa and New Hampshire plus a few in South Carolina and Florida. None of the other GOP candidates have made any significant TV buys, although McCain just started his first ad in New Hampshire. CNN estimates that Romney has spent $8 million on TV ads.

On the Democratic side, Bill Richardson has run the most, at roughly 4300, according to CNN's analysis, followed by Barack Obama at 2300 and Hillary Clinton at 1700.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports, citing an anonymous senior advisor, that Romney will report raising $10 million in the 3rd quarter, plus an additional $6 million of his own money. That would bring his total personal contribution to roughly $15 million -- with a long way to go.