"The lack of a clear winner in the early primaries is encouraging," declared a spokesman for television broadcasters. "And not just for democracy but for our projected ad revenues as well."

"We think everyone wins when we profit," he added.

With Iowa and New Hampshire under their belts, the remaining presidential candidates are in a difficult position, faced with 25 states that hold primaries on or before February 5th. The lack of a clear favorite in the Republican or Democratic contests means any candidate who's serious about getting to the White House will have to push through multiple media messages on several fronts at once.

Which has broadcasting accountants breathing a sigh of relief.

"Candidates spent $40 million dollars on television ads in Iowa," said Norbert Fissile, the manager of a local NBC affiliate in Florida. "Can you imagine if our station got some ad buys like that? Our fiscal report would be golden. I might even redeem myself for my decision to curtail our Britney coverage."

Fissile noted that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have raised record amounts this election: over $80 million apiece. Meanwhile Republicans enter a "win or die" phase, with Romney, Thompson, and Giuliani desperately needing a first-place finish or two to remain viable.

"TV stations provide a valuable public service," explained celebrity columnist and political horserace handicapper Sheery Dunhill. "Voters need to inform themselves about candidates. Candidates need to tell voters about themselves. Television seamlessly brings the two together over the public airwaves, asking only a modest lump of cash in exchange."

This year, the money-tracking site OpenSecrets.org thinks a viable candidate may need to raise $500 million.

Defending the practice, a network representative asked "How else are citizens going to gain an informed and nuanced view of each candidates' personality and proposals than through an onslaught of 15- to 30-second clips repeated mercilessly throughout battleground markets?"

To which Brainsnap can only concur, noting that voters have turned out in record numbers in primaries thus far - a sure sign of enthusiasm for the American perfection of the democratic process.

External Link:
Bill Moyer's Journal: Political Ads