Black-owned media wonder: Where are the campaign ads?
In an election year in which presidential candidates and supporting political action committees could spend upward of $2 billion on political advertising, local African-American-owned media outlets across the country say they’re getting few ad buys.
It’s a long-standing complaint from African-American-owned newspapers, radio and television stations and black elected officials that’s gotten louder each presidential election year — even during Barack Obama’s successful 2008 and 2012 campaigns.
“We’ve been traditionally frustrated,” said James Winston, president of the National Association of Black Broadcasters. “It seems that every campaign season the parties view advertising in African-American-owned media as an afterthought, usually a week or two before the election.”
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they’ve been frustrated, too. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., who in a 2013 speech to the National Newspapers Publishers Association criticized Obama’s 2012 campaign for not spending enough in black-owned media, said he’d taken his concerns directly to Clinton campaign officials recently.
“I’ve talked with (campaign Chairman) John Podesta, and they at least know my sentiments, and I’ve made it known to the public that I don’t think they are conducting the kind of ground game that I would conduct ... ,” he said.
Democrats aren’t the only ones complaining.
Clarence McKee, an African-American Trump supporter who was a Federal Communications Commission attorney, thinks that Trump’s campaign and the Republican Party are leaving votes on the table by not courting African-Americans voters through local black-owned media.
He said the GOP is missing out on reaching some of Florida’s 237,568 African-American registered voters who aren’t affiliated with any party and may be persuaded to cast ballots for Trump and GOP congressional candidates.
“It’s one side saying, ‘We don’t have to worry about those folks’ and the Republican Party establishment saying, ‘We don’t need them. They won’t vote for us, anyway,’ ” McKee said.
Clinton campaign officials say they’re trying to straddle local and national media in reaching out to black voters. Earlier this month, the campaign bought ads in some of Florida’s African-American, Haitian and Caribbeanoriented newspapers.
Her campaign has placed more than 90 ads in African-American newspapers nationwide and aired more than 300 ads on radio stations with large African-American audiences, a campaign aide said.
Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee did not respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment.
More than half the country fears a Trump presidency. And only about a third of Americans believe he is at least somewhat qualified to serve in the White House.
In the final sprint to Election Day, a new Associated Press-GfK poll underscores those daunting roadblocks for Donald Trump as he tries to overtake Hillary Clinton.
Moreover, most voters oppose the hard-line approach to immigration that is a centerpiece of the billionaire businessman’s campaign. They are more likely to trust Clinton to handle a variety of issues facing the country, and Trump has no advantage on the national security topics also at the forefront of his bid.
Trump undoubtedly has a passionate base of support, seen clearly among the thousands of backers who fill the stands at his signature rallies. But most people don’t share that fervor. Only 29 percent of registered voters would be excited and just 24 percent would be proud should Trump prevail in November.
Only one in four voters find him even somewhat civil or compassionate, and just a third say he’s not at all racist.
“We as Americans should be embarrassed about Donald Trump,” said Michael DeLuise, 66, a retired university vice president and registered Republican who lives in Eugene, Oregon. “We as Americans have always been able to look at the wacky leaders of other countries and say ‘Phew, that’s not us.’ We couldn’t if Trump wins. It’s like putting P.T. Barnum in charge. And it’s getting dangerous.”
To be sure, the nation is sour on Clinton, too. Only 39 percent of voters have a favorable view of the Democratic nominee, compared to the 56 percent who view her unfavorably. Less than a third say they would be excited or proud should she move into the White House.
“I think she’s an extremely dishonest person