Obama ad won't run at gas stations

The Obama campaign yesterday announced it will run its "National Priorities" spot — an attack on McCain for his ties to the oil industry — on Gas Station TV, which airs at ... gas stations.

Now — in the sort of flap a campaign welcomes — Obama's camp says Gas Station TV won't air it.

"As Gas Station TV informed the campaign this afternoon, the company will not run ads that are damaging to oil companies," says a release from the Obama campaign.

The company says it won't air political spots, which Obama's camp disputes.

UPDATE: AdAge has more of the company's side, in which the CEO says he never approved the spot. The Obama campaign forwards on its email with the company, after the jump, which includes the assertion that its "owners" have "signed off."

From Obama campaign:

The following are emails exchanged between the campaign’s media buyer, Daniel Jester, and a representative for the ad company, confirming that GSTV initially approved the buy. The representative writes, “Please note that GSTV has approved the spot,” and in a separate email, “the GSTV owners have signed off on this.”



From: Parker, Dee

Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 6:00 PM

To: Daniel Jester

Subject: GSTV & ESPN & GMMB

Danny ,

Digital specs attached.

And according to Jeff @ GSTV, once they have the order, you can be up

And running in an hour.

And by the way, rates shown are net. Check to me ABC National Sales.

And let me now if you can think of any more questions.

Dee

From: Jeff Hupp [mailto:@gstv.com]

Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 5:47 PM

To: Parker, Dee

Cc: Daniels, Dave A

Subject: Re: ESPN Political Campaign 7 21 08 v2.xls

Please see attached that includes the digital formats. For the record, we prefer .wmv format. They can deposit the ad here (just advise when complete):

ftp://XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Username: XXXXXXXX

Password: Ringer007

As for starting; I do not have an IO, but once I have that, and the asset is delivered, I can have on air with an hour or less.

Thanks,

Jeff

From: Parker, Dee [mailto:@abc.com]

Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2008 3:08 PM

To: Daniel Jester

Subject: Here is our proposal based on final approval from GSTV

Please note totals are for 2 weeks in each of the four markets .

And yes the GSTV owners have signed off on this

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank s

Dee

[attached to email: revised spreadsheet for ads in Tampa, Orlando and Miami]

From: Parker, Dee

Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 12:23 PM

To: Daniel Jester

Cc: Parker, Dee

Subject: GSTV & GMMB

Danny ,

Please note that GSTV has approved the spot. And I have enclosed a revised proposal

To show the Florida markets only . There has been a reduction in the Tampa impressions

to reflect a smaller number of stations as Sunoco will not accept political spots.

I have also attached traffic information. Please advise if you need any additional information

And what the next step is .

Dee

[attached to email: spreadsheet for ads in Tampa, Orlando and Miami]

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