2014 campaigns target voters with television

Candidates for Congressional and state races are using television ads to reach potential voters.

Posted 11:29 p.m. Mar 23, 2014 — Updated 6:43 p.m. Jul 13, 2018

Mark Binker

RALEIGH, N.C. — Even with social media, grassroots outreach and telephone calls in the mix, television commercials remain one of the most visible ways political candidates, their allies and opponents try to reach voters.

Spending in North Carolina's U.S. Senate race on ads alone topped $10 million early in 2014, and appears headed to a record-setting year.

We'll use this blog post to catalog ads aired in that race as well as other political campaigns throughout the state.

U.S. Senate Ads

This is a still image from the Chamber of Commerce ad supporting Thom Tillis in the 2014 U.S. Senate primary.

{{a href="external_link-13607837" }}"Kay Hagan - Wrong for North Carolina"{{/a}}

Ad supports: Thom Tillis

Ad opposes: Kay Hagan

Paid for by: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report: Governor steps into GOP Senate primary

Fact Check: Not conducted.

Conservative Leader

Ad supports: Mark Harris

Paid for by: Harris campaign

Approximate Amount Spent: $300,000

Approximate time on air: April 10, 2014 through May 6.

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted.

A still from the American Crossroads commercial backing Thom Tillis in the 2014 U.S. Senate primary.

Guts

Ad supports: Thom Tillis

Paid for by: American Crossroads

Approximate Amount Spent: $1.1 million

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report: Rove-affiliated American Crossroads airs ads for Tillis

Fact Check: Not conducted.

Obamacare for the Mortgage Industry

Ad opposes: Kay Hagan

Paid for by: 60 Plus Association

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Does mortgage industry bill cost "average investors" retirement savings?

Bracket

Ad opposes: Thom Tillis

Paid for by: Senate Majority PAC

Approximate ad buy: $1 million

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report: Senate Majority PAC brackets Tillis

Fact Check: Not conducted

Clean air champion

Ad supports: Kay Hagan

Paid for by: Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Approximate ad buy: $500,000

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report: Two more outside ads for Hagan

Fact Check: Not conducted

Paper route

Ad supports: Thom Tillis

Paid for by: Thom Tillis campaign

Approximate ad buy: $1 million

Approximate time on air: March and April 2014

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report: Thom Tillis reaches back to his paper boy roots

Fact Check: Not conducted

Bad company

Ad opposes: Thom Tillis

Paid for by: Patriot Majority

Approximate ad buy: $500,000

Approximate time on air: February 2014

Markets: Charlotte, Triangle

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Patriot Majority ad hits Tillis on health care positions

Let's clean up her mess

Ad supports: Thom Tillis

Paid for by: Thom Tillis campaign

Approximate ad buy: $300,000

Approximate time on air: Jan. 2014

Markets: Western NC, eastern NC, Triad

WRAL Report: Tillis getting ready to air his first campaign ad

Fact Check: Not conducted

Tell Kay Hagan ObamaCare hurts North Carolina

Ad opposes: Kay Hagan

Paid for by: Americans for Prosperity

Approximate Amount Spent: $900,000

Approximate time on air: Jan. 2013

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted

Count on

Ad supports: Kay Hagan

Ad opposes: Thom Tillis

Paid for by: Senate Majority PAC

Approximate ad buy: $750,000

Approximate time on air: Dec. 2013

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report: New Dem PAC ad targets Tillis

Fact Check: Not conducted

See it

Ad supports: Kay Hagan

Paid for by: The League of Conservation Voters

Approximate ad buy: $300,000

Approximate time on air: November 2013

Markets: Triad

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted

It just doesn't work

Ad opposes: Kay Hagan

Paid for by: Americans for Prosperity

Approximate Amount Spent: $1.5 million in 11/13; $1.4 million in 2/14

Approximate time on air: Nov. 2013; Feb. 2014

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report: AFP spends $1.4 million to re-run ad slamming Hagan

Fact Check: AFP's 'It's about people'

False

Ad opposes: Kay Hagan

Paid for by: Patriot Majority

Approximate Amount Spent: $600,000

Approximate time on air: November 2013

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted

A still picture from AFP's "Exempt me too" ad.

Tell Kay Hagan #ExemptMeToo

Ad opposes: Kay Hagan

Paid for by: Americans for Prosperity

Approximate Amount Spent: $1.7 million

Approximate time on air: Beginning Oct. 29 into November.

Markets: Statewide

WRAL Report: AFP ad targets Hagan on Affordable Care Act

Fact Check: AFP's "Just Exempt Me" ad attacking Hagan

Still picture from the Chemistry Council ad supporting Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C.

American Chemistry Council pro-Hagan ad

Ad supports: Kay Hagan

Paid for by: American Chemistry Council

Approximate Amount Spent: $100,000

Approximate time on air: August 2013

Markets: Triad

WRAL Report: Sunlight on Chemistry Council ads

Fact Check: Not conducted

2nd Congressional District Ads

This is a still image from Clay Aiken's "Might Wonder" ad.

{{a href="external_link-13586169" _fcksavedurl="external_link-13586169"}}"Might Wonder"{{/a}}

Ad supports: Clay Aiken

Paid for by: Clay Aiken campaign

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Triangle

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted.

Right

Ad supports: Keith Crisco

Paid for by: Keith Crisco campaign

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Triangle

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted.

Fight

Ad supports: Renee Ellmers

Paid for by: Renee Ellmers campaign

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Triangle

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted.

Crisco

Ad supports: Keith Crisco

Paid for by: Keith Crisco campaign

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: Spring 2013

Markets: Triangle

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted

6th Congressional District Ads

This is a still image from Laura Fjeld's primary television ad.

{{a href="external_link-13585968" _fcksavedurl="external_link-13585968" _fcksavedurl="external_link-13585968" _fcksavedurl="external_link-13585968" _fcksavedurl="external_link-13585968"}}Laura Fjeld primary campaign commercial{{/a}}

Ad supports: Laura Fjeld

Paid for by: Laura Fjeld campaign

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Triangle

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted.

Voices

Ad supports: Phil Berger Jr.

Paid for by: Phil Berger Jr. campaign.

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Triad

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted.

Defining broken politics

Ad supports: Bruce VonCannon

Paid for by: Bruce VonCannon campaign.

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Triad

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted.

A screen grab from Bruce VonCannon's first commercial.

Fixing broken politics

Ad supports: Bruce VonCannon

Paid for by: Bruce VonCannon campaign.

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: March 2014

Markets: Triad

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted.

Keep your promises

Ad supports: Phil Berger Jr.

Paid for by: Phil Berger Jr. campaign

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: March, April 2013

Markets: Triad, Triangle

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted

7th Congressional District Ads

Still image from from David Rouzer's "Do-er" ad.

{{a href="external_link-13585920" _fcksavedurl="external_link-13585920" _fcksavedurl="external_link-13585920" _fcksavedurl="external_link-13585920" _fcksavedurl="external_link-13585920"}}Do-er{{/a}}

Ad supports: David Rouzer

Paid for by: David Rouzer campaign

Approximate Amount Spent:

Approximate time on air: April 2014

Markets: Triangle

WRAL Report:

Fact Check: Not conducted.