POLITICAL ADS A YEAR BEFORE THE ELECTION? YIKES!

I found something just amazing while reading Jeremy Wallace's political column in the Sarasota Herald Tribune this week.

It seems beyond the realm of logic for a political candidate to begin running ads 12 months before the election (10 before the primary). One would believe that he/she would want to hold on to those dollars until a time when more potential voters would be paying attention. But that doesn't seem to be the case with Vern Buchanan, a Republican from Longboat Key who wants to fill the congressional seat currently held by Katherine Harris.

Jeremy reports that Buchanan has purchased ad time on the FOX News and CNN channels for the cable systems within the five counties comprising the 13th Congressional District, and is on the heels of a glossy eight page mailer sent last week. Buchanan said he felt the time was appropriate to get his life story out before his three GOP and three Democratic opponents do.

He can afford it. Buchanan has done well as a Sarasota area car dealer, and has raised nearly a half million dollars in a three month period after announcing his candidacy.