Iowa Print

Campaigns, interest groups, individuals and news organizations all ran ads in Iowa's largest newspaper, the Des Moines Register, in advance of the Jan. 24, 2000 Iowa caucuses.  Significantly fewer political ads appeared in the Register than in New Hampshire's largest newspaper, the Manchester Union Leader, in advance of the Feb. 1 primary.  Possible explanations for this are: (1) in the caucuses the campaigns are trying to reach and turn out a highly motivated group of activists, while in the primary campaign messages are aimed toward a broader audience; (2) the Register does not reach as much of the state as does the Union Leader in New Hampshire; i.e. the primary is a much more concentrated affair geographically and message-wise and the Union Leader simply offers a more effective way to reach more New Hampshire residents/likely voters than the Register does for Iowa; (3) the New Hampshire primary generally attracts a legion of minor candidates, who, with their limited resources, see newspapers as a way to get out their messages; (4) the advertising rates and policies of the two papers may differ substantially.                            Compare: New Hampshire Print

Specific Findings
In the Des Moines Register during two-week period from Tuesday Jan. 11 to Monday Jan. 24:

Two Weeks: Tuesday Jan. 11 to Monday Jan. 24, 2000 (missing Jan. 17)

Candidate: Forbes ran six of the eleven ads found--3 full page ads and 3 promos. 
Forbes (6); Gore (1); Keyes (1); Bauer (1); Hatch (2) 
Group: Immigration control groups ran eleven of the twenty ads found.
Immigration groups (11); American Cancer Society (3); American Association of Health Plans (1); American Medical Association (1); The Interfaith Alliance (1); Iowa Corn Growers Association (1); Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (1); New York Institute For Law & Society (1); Rev. Horn et al (1).
Media: Four of the five ads were full page ads by the political website voter.com
Individual: Bob Dole warning against "distorted negative television political ads." 
 
Total 38
Candidate 11
Group 21
Media  5
Individual  1
Misc.  0
Monday, Jan. 24, 2000 -- Caucus Day
Total -- 3 ads:
 1 Candidate, 1 Group, 1 Media,  Individual,  Misc.
6A full Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc G Letter.  "To the Voters of Iowa..."  [reviews positions of candidates on family planning and other reproductive health issues]
12A full Forbes C "Here's why Iowa conservatives are supporting Steve Forbes"
6M full voter.com M Auditorium.  "On January 24th, politics..."

 
Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000 
Total -- 5 ads:
 2 Candidate, 2 Group, 1 Media,  Individual,  Misc.
7A full Iowa Corn Growers Association G "An Appeal to Vice President Gore"  [MTBE]
4C 1/2 The Interfaith Alliance G "The Interfaith Alliance Framework of Civility"
11C full Keyes Cp "Largest Ever!..."  promotes Super Rally today Jan. 23 in West Des Moines
13C full Gore C "Al Gore: fighting for us."
6AA full voter.com M Auditorium.  "On January 24th, politics..."

 
Saturday, Jan. 22, 2000 
Total -- 3 ads:
 1 Candidate, 1 Group, 1 Media,  Individual,  Misc.
8A full voter.com M Auditorium.  "On January 24th, politics..."
6M <1/4 Forbes Cp "Come discuss America's future..."  promotes Jan. 22 rally
6M 1/2 American Immigration Control Foundation G "Is Mass Immigration Sinking America?"

 
Friday, Jan. 21, 2000 
Total -- 6 ads:
 3 Candidate, 1 Group, 2 Media,  Individual,  Misc.
6A <1/4 Forbes Cp "Come discuss America's future..."  promotes Jan. 22 rally
8A 1/2 Bauer C "We're supporting Gary Bauer for president...and we think you should too."
11A full C-SPAN M "On C-SPAN  All Politics All Weekend Jan. 22-24"
12A full Rev. Horn et al G "Presidential Rally for Family, Faith & Freedom"  promotes Jan. 22 event
15A full voter.com M Auditorium.  "On January 24th, politics..."
8M full Forbes C "Here's why Iowa conservatives are supporting Steve Forbes"

 
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2000 
Total -- 5 ads:
 1 Candidate, 4 Groups,  Media,  Individual,  Misc.
6A <1/4 Forbes Cp "Come discuss America's future..."  promotes Jan. 22 rally
6A 1/2 American Medical Association G "We're driving home the biggest issues any candidate will face this year." 
[National House Call Campaign]
9A 1/2 American Cancer Society G "It's time to ask the presidential candidates..."
11A full New York Institute For Law & Society G A Letter to Governor George Bush  Don't Gamble With America's Future" 
--urges Bush not to select NY Gov. Pataki for VP because of his support for casino gambling
5M 1/2 American Immigration Control Foundation G "Is Mass Immigration Sinking America?"

 
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2000 
Total -- 2 ads:
 1 Candidate, 1 Group,  Media,  Individual,  Misc.
5M 1/2 American Immigration Control Foundation G "Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance..."
8M full Forbes C "Here's why Iowa conservatives are supporting Steve Forbes"

 
Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000 
Total -- 2 ads:
 1 Candidate, 1 Group,  Media,  Individual,  Misc.
9A 1/2 American Cancer Society G "It's time to ask the presidential candidates..."
4M 1/2 American Immigration Control Foundation G "Is Mass Immigration Sinking America?"

 
Monday, Jan. 17, 2000 
Total --  ads:
  Candidate,  Group,  Media,  Individual,  Misc.
M i s s i n g
 
 
Sunday, Jan. 16, 2000 
Total -- 2 ads:
  Candidate, 2 Group,  Media,  Individual,  Misc.
6AA 2/3 American Association of Health Plans G Construction worker.  "Make me pay more..."
4B 1/2 American Immigration Control Foundation G "Is Mass Immigration Sinking America?"

 
Saturday, Jan. 15, 2000 
Total -- 3 ads:
 1 Candidate, 1 Group,  Media, 1 Individual,  Misc.
6A 1/4 Bob Dole I "Open Letter To Those Who Attend The Republican Caucuses on January 24th"  [warns against "distorted negative television political ads" without naming names (Forbes)]
9A 1/2 Federation for American Immigration Reform G "10 Virgin Acres..."
9A 1/4 Hatch Cp "The Power of Truth"  promo for Jan. 15 program

 
Friday, Jan. 14, 2000 
Total -- 3 ads:
 1 Candidate, 2 Group,  Media,  Individual,  Misc.
6A 1/4 Hatch Cp "The Power of Truth"  promo for Jan. 15 program
6M 1/2 American Immigration Control Foundation G "Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance..."
8M 1/2 American Cancer Society G "It's time to ask the presidential candidates..."

 
Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000 
Total -- 2 ads:
  Candidate, 2 Group,  Media,  Individual,  Misc.
9A 1/2 Population-Environment Balance G "Mass Immigration Costs Taxpayers Over $69 Billion..."
5M 1/2 Federation for American Immigration Reform G "10 Virgin Acres..."

 
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000 
Total -- 2 ads:
  Candidate, 2 Group,  Media,  Individual,  Misc.
10A 1/2 Negative Population Growth G "How do you feel about paving over the amber..."
5M 1/2 Federation for American Immigration Reform G "10 Virgin Acres..."

 
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000 
Total -- 0ads:
  Candidate, 2 Group,  Media,  Individual,  Misc.

No political ads found.