but im not sure you are correct about the ads internationally.  here in canada, usually US shows and/or networks work like this:

1.  the show is on nbc - but canadian commercials are shown

2. the show is on nbc - but is 'taken over' by a canadian network ie. CTV and shows canadian commercials.

i might note that this is not 100% of the time - but usually for the big-ticket shows.

either way it sucks on superbowl.

It's a national ad buy:

National broadcast advertising buys are highly unusual for presidential candidates. Campaigns usually order TV ad time in local markets (most often in contested states) and sometimes supplement it with cable television buys.

"Both the scale and the scope makes Obama's buy unprecedented," said Evan Tracey, the chief operating officer of the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks advertising spending. "This is going beyond the battleground states; this is coverage that the entire country sees. It sort of validates his 50-state posture."

Both Mr. Obama and Senator John McCain, his Republican rival, are setting new records for television advertising spending during the campaign. Mr. Tracey said both Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain are spending close to $6 million a week on TV commercials.

The Obama campaign declined to comment on the advertising buy. But the campaign's ability to spend $5 million is a direct outgrowth of his ability to raise a lot of money -- $52 million in June. It also reflects the intensity of the advertising efforts in this presidential election.

[...]

The trade publication Ad Age, which first reported the Obama campaign ad buy, said "the last network TV spot apparently was a single multi-minute ad Republican Bob Dole ran in 1996."

Brian Stelter - Obama Bets $5 Million on Olympic Viewers NYT 23 Jul 08

How 'bout that.  A 50-state strategy you can believe in.

Not even the olympics can escape presidential politics. I just hope that Obama's ad will be about the movement, and the message has to be very very very positive. Else it will just be backfired.

I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't air after the 1000 meter race.

Think about it.

I'd have missed it, but yeah...someone would have caught it =)

As long as he doesn't buy ads in China itself, I am fine with it.

I urge everyone who is not connected with the athletes(Carter's 1980 boycott was a really unfair move for the athletes) to not give in to the temptation and visit China during the Olympics. The event is going to be primarily a vehicle for Chinese propaganda. Hotels are not getting filled up and so they may try to entice foreign travelers with some discounts. Don't fall for it.