Interest Group Ads—General Election

According to the Smart Media Group (+), of more than $980 million spent on television and radio advertising in the 2012 presidential general election, super PACs and issue groups spent $434 million (44% of the total).  The two camps had markedly different spending patterns, however.  Smart Media Group reported that of the pro-Romney advertising total of $583 million, various groups spent $370 million (63%) on advertising in support of Romney, compared to $213 million (37%) by Romney's campaign.  By contrast the Obama campaign spent $355 million on advertising (84%), compared to $64 million (16%) by groups supporting Obama.  More than two times as many groups were noted running ads supportive Romney as were found running ads supporting Obama.  The broad picture was somewhat similar to 2004, when many different groups weighed in in support of the Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry, but it wasn't enough to defeat the incumbent President George W. Bush.  Below are many of the ads.

Additional Resources
Center for Responsive Politics: "2012 Outside Spending, by Group."
Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group: "Follow the Unlimited Money."

See also: Interest Group Ads—The Primaries.

With assistance from Mike Dec, 4president.org.


2000 | 2004 | 2008

Supporting Obama/Opposing Romney
AFSCME
"Romney's World" (late Feb. 2012 - TV ad, OH). +
"Greed" (approx Jan. 20, 2012 - TV ad, FL). +


League of Conservation Voters
"Leaders Lead" (Nov. 5, 2012 - nationwide cable). +
"Romney Opposes Wind Energy Tax Credit" (Oct. 1, 2012 and relaunched Oct. 29, 2012, Denver, CO). +


MoveOn.org Political Action
"VOTE - Scarlett Johansson, Eva Longoria & Kerry Washington" (Oct. 15, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Bruce" (Sept. 25, 2012 - TV ad, Roanoke, VA). +
"Una latina le responde a Mitt Romney" (Sept. 20, 2012 - TV ad, Las Vegas, Denver, Miami, Tampa and Orlando). +
"Stepping on the Middle Class" (TV ad, Tampa cable during the RNC).
"Thank You for the Job, Mitt Romney" - (mid-Aug. 2012 - TV ad, Cincinnati and Cleveland, OH). +
"Pickpocket" (Aug. 10, 2012 - TV ad, to run along Romney bus tour). +
"Rafalca Romney" (Aug. 2, 2012 - TV ad, during swing-state coverage of the Olympic Games...when Rafalca performs). +
"Tricky Mitt" (July 18, 2012 - TV ad, Toledo, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Cleveland, OH). +
"Romney y la purga" (July 5-7, 2012 - TV ad, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, FL). +
"Mitt Romney: Condemn the Racist Voter Purge NOW" (June 22, 2012 - TV ad, FL). +
"Tell Mitt Romney: Kittens Are Cute. 1% Fat Cats? Not So Much." (April 16, 2012 - TV ad, Animal Planet). +
"He'd Let America Fail" (Feb. 24, 2012 - TV ad, MI cable). +
"Mitt Romney is Mr. 1%" (Dec. 2, 2011 - TV ad, IA cable). +


People for the American Way
"Mitt Romney: Man of the Corporations" (Aug. 15, 2011, TV ad, NH). +


Planned Parenthood Votes/ Planned Parenthood Action Fund
"Mitt Romney Completely Wrong" (Oct. 16, 2012 - radio ad). +
"Mitt Romney: Still Completely Wrong on Women's Health" (Oct. 11, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Cynthia's Story" (week of Sept. 25, 2012 - TV ad, No. VA). +
“Turn Back the Clock on Women’s Health” (Sept. 10, 2012 - TV ad, No. VA; also seen in CO in Oct.). + 
"Out of Touch" (May 30, 2012 - TV ad, West Palm Beach, FL, Des Moines, IA , No. VA, and DC). +


Priorities USA Action +
"Stage" (run earlier and Nov. 3, 2012, CO, FL, IA, OH, NV, VA and WI).
"Connect the Dots" (Oct. 31, 2012 - TV ad, FL). +
"Same Promises" (Oct. 23, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, OH, VA and WI). +
"Stick" (Oct. 8, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, OH, VA and WI). +
"Doors" (Sept. 19, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, OH, VA and WI). +
"We the People" (Sept. 8, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, OH, VA and WI). +
"Olive" (Aug. 28, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, OH and VA) . +
"Small-Minded" (Aug. 17, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, OH, PA and VA). +
"Understands" (Aug. 7, 2012 - TV ad, FL, IA, OH, PA, VA). +
"Stage" (June 23, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, OH, PA and VA). +
"Donnie" (June 10, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, OH, PA and VA). +
"Loris and Ampad" (May 22, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, OH, PA and VA). +
"Heads or Tails"  (May 15, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, OH, PA and VA). +
"Romney's World View" (April 16, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Romney's Big Oil Trail" (April 2, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NM, NV, OH and VA). +
"Bankrupt" (Feb. 22, 2012 - TV ad, MI). +

...Priorities USA Action w/SEIU COPE
"Votemos" (Sept. 14, 2012 - TV ad, FL). +
"Votemos" (Sept. 14, 2012 - TV ad, CO, NV). +
ads en Español (June 11, 2012 - TV ad, CO, NV, FL). +
 "Mitt Romney No Tiene Vergüenza" (Feb. 1, 2012 - radio ad en Español, Tampa and Orlando, FL and Las Vegas and Reno, NV). +
"Dos Caras" (Jan. 24, 2012 - radio ad en Español, Tampa and Orlando, FL). +

...Priorities USA Action w/ LCV Victory Fund
"$200 Million Man" (April 25, 2012 - TV ad, CO, NV). +

...Priorities USA Action w/AFSCME
"47%" (Sept. 27, 2012 - radio ad, OH and VA). +


SEIU COPE
FreeDeal/Dream Act ads en Español (June 17, 2012 - CO, NV, FL). +
also see ads w/ Priorities USA


We the People, Inc. +
"Ad Your Voice 2012" ad contest (announced Sept. 13, 2012)
 Supporting Romney/Opposing Obama
American Crossroads +  all
"Debate" (Oct. 31, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Survive" (Oct. 24, 2012 - TV ad, CO, IA, OH and VA). +
"Bow" (Oct. 24, 2012 - TV ad, FL, IA, NV, NH, OH and VA). +
"At Stake" [Eastwood ad] (Oct. 24, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, NH, OH and VA). +
"Sack It" (Oct. 16, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA). +
"Four More" (Oct. 10, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, NC and OH). +
"Actually Happened" (Oct. 2, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA). +
"Next" (Sept. 18, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA). +
"Forward?" (Sept. 5, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA). +
"Smoke" (July 19, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA). +


American Energy Alliance
"Nine Dollar Gas" (March 29, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NM, OH and VA). +


American Future Fund +  all
"WI Endorsement" (Nov. 4, 2012 - TV ad, WI). +
"Fed Up" (Nov. 2, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Delphi" (Nov. 2, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Real Solutions" (run earlier in CO; Nov. 1, 2012 - TV ad, MI, OH, PA). +
"New Path" (run earlier in MN and WI; Nov. 1, 2012 - TV ad, MI and PA). +
"Every Day" (late Oct. 2012 - radio ad). +
"Worried" (late Oct. 2012 - radio ad). +
"Party Line" (late Oct. 2012 - radio ad). +
"FL Endorsement" (Oct. 31, 2012 - TV ad, FL). +
"IA Endorsement" (Oct. 31, 2012 - TV ad, IA). +
"Real Solutions" (Oct. 27, 2012 - TV ad, CO). +
"Hands" (Oct. 24, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Tied" (Oct. 24, 2012 - TV ad).
"New Path" (Oct. 11, 2012 - TV ad, MN; Oct. 22, 2012 - TV ad, WI). +
"Decision" (Oct. 4, 2012 - TV ad, IA). +
"Security" (Oct. 4, 2012 - TV ad, IA). +
"Confianza" (Oct. 1, 2012 - TV ad, DC, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Denver and Raleigh). +
"Four Years" (Oct. 1, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Promises" (Sept. 26, 2012 - TV ad, MN). +
"Janesville" (Sept. 10, 2012 - TV ad, IA; Sept. 13, 2012 - TV ad, MN, WI). +
"On the Hook" (April 24, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NM, OH and VA). +
"Obama's Wall Street" (Feb. 27, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NM, NC, OH and VA). +
"The Real State of the Union" (Jan. 23, 2012 - TV ad, national cable). +


American Principles in Action
"The Deporter in Chief" (Aug. 7, 2012 - TV ad, NV). +


Americans for Job Security
"Running" (TV ad, Sept. 26, 2012 - CO, FL, IA, NC, OH and VA; Oct. 23, 2012 - IA, MN, Columbus and Cincinnati, OH and Norfolk and Richmond, VA). +


Americans for Prosperity +  all
coal ad (Oct. 12, 2012 - radio ad, Southeast OH). +
"The Dinner Table" (Oct. 5, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Obama's Failing Agenda" (Sept. 24, 2012 - radio ad, CO, FL, IA, IN, MO, NC, NH, NM, NV, OH, PA, VA and WI).
"We Must Replace President Obama" (Sept. 3, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Has President Obama Earned Your Vote?" (Aug. 15, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MN, NV, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA and WI). +
"President Obama: A One Term Proposition" (Aug. 8, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MN, NV, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA and WI). +
"Not A Tax Increase?" (June 29, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MN, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA and WI). +
"Doing Fine" (June 20, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, NV, NC, OH and PA). +
"Wasteful Spending" (April 26, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Obama Sacrifices Pawns for Politics" (Jan. 16, 2012 - TV ad, IA, MI, NC, OH, VA and WI). +
Americans for Prosperity Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste
"Chinese Professor" (Oct. 21, 2012 - national cable). +

Citizens for a Working America PAC
radio ad (late Oct. 2012, coal country)


Citizens United Productions
"The Hope and the Change" (Sept. 18-Nov. 6, 2012 - film being run on cable and broadcast). +


Concerned Women for America LAC
"Care" (June 20, 2012 - TV ad, national cable and IA, MN, NH, NM, VA and WI). +


Crossroads Generation
"Poster" (weekend of Oct. 27-28, 2012 - TV ad on ESPN and ESPN2 in selected swing state markets). +


Crossroads GPS +  all
"Mitt and David" (Oct. 23, 2012 - TV ad, OH, WI and other states). +
"Broke" (Sept. 14, 2012 - TV ad, CO, IA, NV, NH, OH and VA). +
"News" (July 31, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA). +
"Suffered" (July 23, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Tried" (July 12, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA). +
"Excuses" (July 10, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA). +
"Stopwatch" (June 5, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH, PA and VA). +
"Basketball" (May 23, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH, PA and VA). +
"Obama's Promise" (May 17, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH, PA and VA). +
"Cecil Roberts" (April 13, 2012 - radio ad, Western PA, Southern OH, WV). +
"Too Much" (April 11, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, OH and VA). +
"Deflect" (March 21, 2012 - TV ad, Albuquerque, NM, Columbus, OH, Las Vegas, NV). +
"Every Level" (Feb. 1, 2012 - TV ad, national cable). +
"Typical" (Dec. 12, 2011 - TV ad, national cable). +
"Thread" (July 26, 2011 - TV ad, national cable and key states).
"Despertarse" (July 18, 2011 - TV ad, markets in CO, FL, NM, NV, TX and DC; en Español).
"Wake Up" (July 8, 2011 - TV ad, national cable and key states).
"Shovel Ready" (June 27, 2011 - TV ad, national cable and key states).
"The System" (March 9, 2011 - TV ad, national).


Ending Spending Action Fund
"Chillicothe" (Nov. 3, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Work Ethic" (mid-Oct. 2012 - TV ad, WI). +
"Reason" [Artur Davis] (Oct. 1 - TV ad). +
"Why I Changed My Vote: Part One" (Oct. 1, 2012 - TV ad). +


Faith & Freedom Coalition
radio ad (Oct. 24, 2012, swing states).


Let Freedom Ring
"Side by Side" (Oct. 22, 2012 - online ad, OH, PA, VA and WI). + .
"Muslim Brotherhood" (Sept. 20, 2012 - TV ad, "key swing states"). +


National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund
"One Vote" (Oct. 18, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Fought for It" (Oct. 16, 2012 - TV ad). +
"Chipping Away at Your 2nd Amendment Rights" (Oct. 8, 2012 - TV ad, FL, OH, VA and WI). +


National Right to Life Victory Fund
radio ad (Sept. 14, 2012, including VA).


New American Energy Opportunity Foundation
National radio ad and two Ohio radio ads (late-Oct. 2012 - radio ads). +


Patriot Super PAC
"Obama Get Out" (weekend of Aug. 5-6, 2012, central FL). +


Republican Jewish Coalition
"Bryna" (Oct. 31, 2012 - TV, , FL, OH, NV and PA). +
Bernie Marcus TV ad (Oct. 5, 2012 - TV ad, FL, OH, NV and PA). +
"Renie" (Oct. 3, 2012 - TV ad, FL, OH, NV and PA). +
"Michael" (Sept. 19, 2012 - TV ad, So. FL, Cleveland, OH, Las Vegas, NV and Philadelphia, PA). +


Restore Our Future  all
"Flatline" (Oct. 30, 2012 - TV ad, CO, IA, ME, MI, NV, OH, PA, VA, WI and national). +
"Genuinely Cares" (Oct. 23, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH, VA and WI). +
"Better" (Oct. 23, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH, VA and WI). +
"New Normal" (TV ad, Oct. 4, 2012 - WI; Oct. 9, 2012 - FL, IA and VA; Oct. 12, 2012 - MI; Oct. 30, 2012 - national and PA). +
"Kindergarten"  (Sept. 26, 2012 - TV ad, MI and WI). +
"Disappearing" (Sept. 19, 2012 - TV ad, MI and WI). +
"Debate" (Aug. 20, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH, PA, VA and WI). +
"Another Month" (Aug. 14, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH, PA, VA and WI). +
"Olympics" (July 31, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH, PA, VA and WI). +
"Imagine" (July 27, 2012 - radio ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, NH, NC, OH, PA and VA). +
"Doing Fine" (June 20, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, NV, NH, NC, OH, PA and VA). +
"Mother's Day" (May 9, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA). +
"Saved" (May 2, 2012 - TV ad, CO, FL, IA, MI, NV, NH, NC, OH and VA +; run earlier in the MI primary). +


Secure America Now
"It's time to replace this sorry President." (end of Oct. 2012). +
"Vote to Secure America" (end of Oct. 2012 - radio ad). +


Special Ops OPSEC Education Fund
"Bump in the Road" (Oct. 4, 2012 - TV ad). +


Thomas Peterffy
"Freedom to Succeed" (Oct. 11, 2012 - TV ad, nationally on CNN, selected local markets). +


Veterans for a Strong America
"President Obama's Form Letters" (Oct. 19, 2012 - TV ad, selected markets in CO, FL, OH and VA). +


Women Speak Out PAC
"The Nurse, The Extremist, The Survivor" (Oct. 10, 2012 - TV ad, VA). +
"How Will You Answer?" (ea. Oct. 2012 - TV ad, FL, OH, VA). +
"Barack Obama: Abortion Radical" (ea. Oct. 2012 - TV ad, FL, OH, VA). +

60 Plus Association
"Strengthen" (Oct. 25, 2012 - TV ad, West Palm Beach and Fort Myers, FL). +
Neutral
Mayors Against Illegal Guns Action Fund
"Demand a Plan - Stephen Barton" (Oct. 1, 2012 - TV ad, during first presidential debate). +
"Tucson Survivors Demand A Plan" (July 25, 2012 - TV ad, during broadcasts of the 2012 Summer Olympics and morning political talk shows). +