Presidential Campaign Ads Take No Break

[GHOSTDANCER]

Tue Aug 17, 1:26 PM ET

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - In late summer when most people expect a break from presidential campaign ads, both sides in this year's White House race are blitzing the airwaves with more than $60 million worth of commercials.

Political campaigns traditionally spend less on advertising in August, when voters are thinking more about vacations and less about politics. But with the race between President Bush (news - web sites) and John Kerry (news - web sites) still tight, both sides are running wall-to-wall commercials in nearly two dozen competitive states and on national cable networks......

Bush is spending at least $30 million on TV and radio ads this month. Kerry is not advertising until September to save money, but the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) is spending more than $20 million on TV ads and other liberal groups have committed more than $11 million. Conservative groups also are on the air but to a much lower extent.

<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20040817/ap_on_el_pr/atypical_ad_season>