Don't Touch That Dial: A Message From the President of the United States Wannabes

Oct. 29, 2008 — -- With only five days remaining in the campaign, the presidential candidates took primetime TV by storm Wednesday, hoping to persuade remaining undecided voters.

Rolling in campaign dough, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., spent millions of dollars on a 30-minute closing argument infomercial, which aired on six broadcast and cable networks. Watch it HERE.

He also taped an appearance on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," set to air later this evening. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. -- who, as of two weeks ago, had $40 million less than his rival left to spend -- used only free media to get his message out, including an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live."

The half-hour Obama commercial featured a mix of stories from ordinary Americans, politicians vouching for Obama, inspirational campaign video and the candidate himself laying out his plans on the economy, health care, energy, education, foreign policy and other issues.

"I'm reminded every single day that I am not a perfect man," Obama says in the Davis Guggenheim-produced video. "I will not be a perfect president. But I can promise you this: I will always tell you what I think and where I stand. I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you when we disagree. And most importantly, I will open the doors of government and ask you to be involved in your own democracy again."

Democratic Govs. Ted Strickland (Ohio), Bill Richardson (New Mexico), Tim Kaine (Virginia) and Kathleen Sebelius (Kansas) all spoke on behalf of Obama.

"This guy is special, because I think he can bring people together, because he's a good, decent man that understands the world through his background," Richardson said of Obama.

"Think of this: Barack Obama is going to be a Democrat in the presidency who actually cuts taxes. But he's going to cut taxes for the people who really need a tax cut," Strickland said of Obama's plan to cut taxes for families making less than $250,000 a year and individuals who make less than $200,000.