Brewer speaks with Maine Public about online ads ahead of presidential debate
Mark Brewer, a political science professor at the University of Maine, spoke with Maine Public for a report about highly targeted online advertising that was expected during the first presidential debate. Ahead of the debate, Maine Public reported it was predicted that the event could set a ratings record, with more than 80 million viewers — possibly as many as 100 million. With many younger voters likely to watch online and engage in social media interactions in real time, Brewer said ads on social media could be crucial for finding, and winning over, those voters in the election. He says the messaging in online ads can be far more targeted than those distributed through traditional media such as newspapers and TV. One targeted group might be young potential voters in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, according to the report. Brewer said as polls across the country show that many millennials are undecided or only weakly supporting a candidate, those targeted ads could pay off. “If you’re looking at those voters, putting your dollars and your energy into social media trying to reach them is a really smart choice,” he said.