Campaign ads broaden their reach

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Election observers see the advertising blitz in the U.S. presidential nominating race on a scale similar to past general elections.

Democratic presidential contenders Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., spent millions on spots, including early cable news network advertisements, in what some see as a test for platforms each believes will register with a national audience, The New York Times said Friday.

The latest ads show Clinton saying, "Bush did nothing," while Obama addresses concerns over his experience by drawing on his role in Senate arms control and ethics measures.

Other candidates from both sides of the aisle have yet to reach beyond state-specific ads, with Democratic contender John Edwards targeting South Carolina and the three leading GOP candidates focusing on Florida.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., hopes to draw on "earned media" if he wins the Florida primary Tuesday with his camp saying "riding that wave can be very important."

The message of the presidential campaign shifted since the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, with Clinton slamming "the Bush economy" and Obama catering to the economic concerns of middle-class America.