Incumbent Republicans in the neighboring states of Tennessee and Kentucky are in store for primary challenges from the right, and in both states, radio is already being used in the early stages of the campaign.
In Tennessee, Ted Carr believes that Sen. Lamar Alexander is too cozy with the Obama administration, particularly when it comes to Obamacare, which Alexander has apparently not denounced with sufficient fervor.
So according to reports, Alexander is denouncing it in no uncertain terms. And to make sure Tennesseans get that message, he is running radio ads in the state so that residents can hear him do so.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is facing a similar challenge in Kentucky. But according to reports, he is not the one taking to the airwaves to shore up his conservative bona fides.
Rather, radio ads are coming from a political action group known as the Madison Project. MP is seeking to soften McConnell up to the benefit of challengers who believe McConnell is too moderate.
RBR-TVBR observation: We are always surprised that radio doesn’t get more usage by the political crowd. The precision targeting capability and attractive price point offered by the medium make it the kind of messaging tool that can be put to use constantly for all sorts of tactical and strategic reasons from the earliest stages of a campaign right up to the day people are going to the polls. Radio stations should sell this, and political operatives should be making an effort to learn.
