After Slow Start, Republicans Blanket Iowa With Ads

After a slow start, the Republican presidential hopefuls and the political action committees that support them are saturating Iowa TV with mostly negative ads.

Spending on campaign ads has reached nearly $6 million in the run-up to the state's Jan. 2 nominating caucuses. "The race is fully engaged now," said Ken Goldstein, president of Campaign Media Analyst Group, which tracks political advertising spending. In the 2008 campaign cycle, between $37 million and $42 million was spent on political advertising in Iowa. But Goldstein believes the slew of GOP debates and "dramas" such as the harassment allegations against Herman Cain prompted campaigns this year to hold off on advertising in Iowa. The lack of a contest on the Democratic side will also result in less spending in Iowa than four years ago, Goldstein said. While campaigns are spending less, independent groups have ratcheted up their involvement. According to the Federal Election Commission, Restore our Future -- a "super PAC" created to support Mitt Romney -- has bought $2.6 million worth of ads attacking Newt Gingrich. Romney's campaign is spending about $1 million in ad buys in Iowa. But Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) is the biggest spender in Iowa, buying more than $500,000 worth a week in December.