Blitz of Campaign Ads Is Early and Aggressive

The presidential campaign is erupting into a full-scale advertising war, with both candidates and their allies pouring huge sums into early and aggressive efforts to define the fight on their terms.

At least $50 million worth of ads will appear in swing states in the next several weeks as President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney move swiftly to win over voters now, casting aside concerns that their money will be wasted on people who are not paying much attention five and a half months before Election Day. The latest volley came on May 16, when Crossroads GPS, a political group formed by Karl Rove and other top Republican strategists, unveiled a $25 million advertising campaign. The Crossroads campaign matches the $25 million advertising offensive that the Obama campaign began last week. Other outside political groups and “super PACs” have committed at least an additional $15 million in recent weeks, mostly to Romney’s benefit, according to Kantar Media. There is almost certainly more to come before the highly viewed spring television schedule winds down for the summer.