Political advertising may set records

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Spending for political and issue-advocacy advertising for the 2008 election will reach a record, an analysis group in Arlington, Va., said.

The TNS Media Intelligence/Campaign Media Analysis Group said candidates, interest groups, unions and corporations are buying more TV time than ever before and spending could reach $3 billion by the election, CNN reported Monday.

The amount spent in 2004 on political and issue-advocacy TV commercials was $1.7 billion and in 2006 it was $2.3 billion.

About $270 million has been spent this year on television ads with $60 million targeting healthcare.

CMAG Chief Operating Officer Evan Tracey told CNN this is just the beginning of interest groups "pivoting from legislative advocacy mode to political mode."

"What we expect to see between now and the end of the primaries, and through the general election, is groups will take a more aggressive stance on their advertising and actually target candidates," he said.