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Obama's late ad-vantage.
Barack Obama’s presidential campaign spent 50 percent more for television advertising than John McCain in the first five weeks after Labor Day in Michigan: $5,546,000 to $3,683,000.
- Press Release: Obama's late ad-vantage
- 2008 Michigan Presidential Television Advertising - through Oct. 6 (pdf)
Growth sector? Lobbying in Lansing!
Lansing lobbyists reported spending $19.2 million in the first seven months of 2008. That is up by 8 percent compared to the record-setting pace of 2007 but important information is not disclosed.
House fund-raising on record pace
Candidates for the Michigan House of Representatives have already raised $10.4 million this election cycle, 11.5 percent ahead of the pace in the record-setting 2006 cycle.
- Press Release: House candidates on record-setting fund-raising pace
- Candidate campaign finance summaries, contested 2008 primaries (pdf)
- Candidate campaign finance summaries, uncontested 2008 primaries (pdf)
MCFN coverage of Campaign 2008
Check MCFN's coverage of Campaign 2008: News releases and campaign finance data.
A Citizen's Guide to Redistricting
The Brennan Center for Justice has released a timely and valuable new publication, A Citizen's Guide to Redistricting. The Citizen’s Guide is a comprehensive look at the rules for drawing political district lines, including a description of how redistricting works today, how it could work in the future, and why redistricting reform matters.
Poll's message to pols: Fix this mess
A new poll of Michigan residents shows broad dissatisfaction with the performance of state government, but an abiding belief that political reforms could make a significant difference for the better. By a two-to-one margin, Michiganders say they prefer a candidate who understands that we’ll make better progress on 'bread and butter' economic issues if we first address the need for political reform.
Grassroots to Legislature: Support Impartial Justice
Grassroots activists brought a simple message to Lansing on February 19th: Michigan’s high-priced and largely secretive Supreme Court election campaigns undermine public trust and confidence in the state’s highest court.