Another big win for Democrats in a special election (this time a race for the Wisconsin State Senate where the Democrat won by 9 points in a district that Trump won by 18 points).
On a related topic, I’ve been wondering for a while about DIY political advertising. And then I saw that “Three Billboards” movie (very good — M-Mac’s best work in a while IMHO) and then a reader emailed me to ask if I knew anything about putting up political billboards.
So…does anyone know anything about this? Can one just put up political billboards trashing the Republicans who voted for the shitty tax bill (that’s what this reader wanted to do)? Does it make sense to do so? Any advice would be welcome.
In the meantime, I just raised the goal on the Balloon Juice Nowhere To Hide fund, which splits equally among all Democratic eventual nominees in House districts currently held by Republicans.
As I explained yesterday, I also think it makes sense to give to the DCCC in this environment.
Just One More Canuck
“Long haired freaky people need not apply”
Snarki, child of Loki
Driving through Hartlandt Amerika™, there were plenty of “Rent this sign for only ###/day!”
Not sure how many of their owners would be willing to risk gunshot damage, though.
Yarrow
You can put up billboards, but apparently it’s hard to find a company willing to do it because most are owned by large companies and they won’t do it. You might be interested in checking out Claude Taylor’s Twitter feed. He’s putting up billboards targeting specific House members around the country. Mostly focusing on Freedom Caucus. https://twitter.com/TrueFactsStated
CarolDuhart2
Good thought. TV ads were the gold standard for a long time, but with so many channels and cord-cutters, tv ads aren’t what they used to be. While everybody has a tv, ads come and go and many people miss them, even without using a DVR. Facebook and and billboards are 24/7. If you miss one ad, there will be another or you will come across that one sooner or later. Also in light of the fact that face to face works best, local ads are probably the next best thing. You can at least contact a local group if you have questions about what you see.
Lee
I’ve also kicked around that billboard idea.
From what I’ve heard our local Dems are pulling a good one. Sam Johnson is finally retiring so the seat is open. The leading Republican is a Tea Party nutter. The Dems (as I’ve heard but not confirmed) are going to run a guy named…Sam Johnson. Not sure if it is going to work or even help, but with it looking to be a wave election, every little bit helps.
Mnemosyne
The Swing Left group for CA-25 (currently Steve Knight’s district) put one up, but I don’t know the details.
laura
@Mnemosyne: Steve Knight. So unlike his dad in NO many ways. A rotten apple, fallen from a foul and rotten tree, built over a cesspool.
Yarrow
@Yarrow: Should probably add that he set up a PAC to fund the billboards and people can donate to that if they want to help. He’s also targeting House members involved in Russian treason. He has yet to find a company willing to put up this billboard in Paul Ryan’s district, but the design is in this tweet. You can see it if you click through.
Tazj
It has been done where I live, outside of Buffalo, NY. Someone started a GoFundMe to pay for an electronic billboard to criticize Republican Congressman Chris Collins when he refused to hold a town hall prior to the Obamacare repeal voting last year. They raised the money (about $3000) and the billboard was put up at a busy intersection near me. The billboard was even featured on the local news.
Doug!
@Mnemosyne:
Very cool
WV Blondie
I have an alternative suggestion: If there’s a local paper, see how much banners on its website cost. When I was involved in a local campaign against a utility company, our advocacy group used this mechanism and found it both very cost effective and a great way to target the immediate area. In a congressional race, one set of ads can be used in multiple newspapers.
geg6
I know that a lot of the smaller billboards in my area are owned by a local company. We have one that is on our property (for which we get something like $1200 a year, $600 twice a year). I think it’s possible that they keep up the ads until they have something new to put on it, so it might be really cost effective. The one in our yard has had an ad for Slippery Rock University for at least 2 years (which my boss is not thrilled about because so many people know it’s my house but I keep telling him I have no control over it).
Becca
I don’t know about billboards, but in Tipton county TN you can park an old bus on your lot along Hi-way 51 and paint ” Voting for Hillary is a sin!” on its side.
mai naem mobile
Somebody should put up one of those counting signs like the debt counter or the McDonald’s 200 million burgers served except with the number of lies Dolt45 has told since inauguration. Maybe Tom Steyer.
varmintito
It is at least partially a zoning issue, with respect to size, height, placement, illumination, etc. Check your local zoning code. If you live in a condo or some other property with a HOA, you’ll need to check those rules too. These limitations aside, unlike commercial billboards, which are subject to much more stringent regulation, political signs generally can be placed on any property regardless of zoning classification. There is a pretty large body of constitutional law on this subject, but the core point is that lawful occupants of property can put up signs that express themselves politically.
Tazj
@Tazj: I should’ve clarified it to state they rented time on an electronic billboard. The billboard was already there advertising other things and the ad against Collins was displayed in between ads for restaurants and insurance companies.
RandyG
@Mnemosyne:
CA-25 article and billboard
EthylEster
DougJ wrote:
I thought they were the totebaggers you constantly rail against.
Doug!
@EthylEster:
What would political operatives have to do with people who listen to NPR?
dp
The pros I know say that generally speaking, billboards are one of the worst ways to spend money in a political campaign.
There are exceptions. One of those who has adamantly told me that was involved in purchasing a huge billboard in downtown New Orleans near the Superdome that said in giant block letters: ABV (Anybody but Vitter). That worked out pretty well.