Huntsman ads just hitting airwaves

Promises made. Promises kept. Keep the momentum.

Most Utahns are only now hearing the message of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s re-election campaign commercials because they didn't begin airing regularly until Monday — despite a $169,000 ad buy from Sept. 29 through Election Day on Nov. 4.

Huntsman, who has maintained a wide lead throughout the campaign against his Democratic opponent, Bob Springmeyer, donated about $50,000 worth of that commercial time to the state Republican Party.

The party used the time to promote its new "I Can" campaign that features the state's accomplishments under Republican leadership. The campaign is funded by GOP elected officials although the governor is the only one to donate media time.

"It's important voters understand what having Republicans in office really means," Utah GOP Chairman Stan Lockhart said. He said the party's commercials also help Huntsman's re-election bid by reminding voters of what was done in his first term.

The governor did run a few days of TV commercials late last month, but then decided to make the donation, his spokeswoman, Lisa Roskelley, said. "It was just to help contribute to their campaign," she said.

As for Huntsman's re-election bid, Roskelley said the governor didn't feel he needed as much advertising as he'd initially planned. A Deseret News poll in early September found 77 percent of Utah voters backed the governor compared to just 13 percent for Springmeyer.

A business consultant, Springmeyer said this week he has authorized radio commercials to start airing as well as more billboards. He said he has not planned any advertising on television.

Springmeyer said he doesn't think voters have paid much attention to the governor's race until the past few days. "In terms of not having unlimited amounts of money like somebody else — that I'm running against — it's probably an advantage," he said.

Huntsman spent about $3.5 million winning in 2004, but his campaign expects this year's race will only cost about $800,000 to $900,000. That amount includes paying off a line of credit opened four years ago.

The two 30-second commercials produced for his current campaign, which can be seen on huntsman08.com/media/tv, both feature video from his State of the State speeches about infrastructure and education.

Roskelley said they are running on the local NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates as well as on cable throughout the day, mostly during news programs.

---

E-mail: lisa@desnews.com