http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/27/2010-political-ad-spendin_n_696648.htmlWASHINGTON — Across the country, political ad spending is up and attack ads lead the way. Those who take the high road do so at their peril.
As of Thursday, candidates for state and federal office had spent $395 million on ads for the November elections, compared with $286 million at this point in the 2006 midterms. More than half the ads have been negative.
Political parties and outside groups have been more negative, going on the attack in nearly 80 percent of their ads while spending $150 million, $41 million ahead of the 2006 pace.
The numbers – compiled by Evan Tracey, who tracks political ads as president of CMAG, a division of Kantar Media – reflect a need by candidates and their allies to define opponents quickly to an increasingly engaged electorate. Those who don't have paid the price.
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This is what the Roberts court has done, along with the ginning up by the MEdia to create two sides to non-issues. All the money circulates among the already rich, while we search for just the right shopping cart to live out of. What a disconnect! And, they wonder, why do we not vote? The machines will take care of that, more votes than there are registered voters.