This year’s election is on track to smash 2004’s political ad spending record of $1.7 billon, MediaWeek reports. According to research firm TNS Media, after 2008’s presidential, congressional and gubernatorial races are all said and done, not to mention the various ballot initiatives across the country, an estimated $2.5 billion will have been spent on political advertising. Network TV, local cable TV and radio stand to benefit the most from the year’s glut of political ads, MediaWeek says. Spending in the late stages of the presidential race is relatively one-sided, with the Washington Post reporting that Sen. Barack Obama is outspending opponent Sen. John McCain 3 to 1 in TV advertising. From Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, the Democratic presidential nominee spent more than $20 million on TV ads in 17 states, the Post reports.
—Christopher Perez