In Senate Battlegrounds, Fusillades of TV Ads

In the 11 states with the closest Senate races this year, record amounts of money are being spent on TV commercials that carry common messages. For the Democrats, it is the venerable mantra that it is "time for a change," epitomized cleverly by the codgers spot. Attacking long tenures in Washington is popular, and linking Republicans to President Bush, Big Oil and tax cuts for large corporations seems to be obligatory. For Republicans and their supporters, all confronting a hostile political environment, it is presenting Democratic opponents as profligate taxers and spenders. Candidates themselves are spending less money on TV ads than outsiders and party committees.