The Rising Use Of TV Ads In Election Campaigns

By Steve Goldstein
Published: Friday, September 26, 2014 - 3:31pm
Audio icon Download mp3 (5.62 MB)

According to the Center for Public Integrity, campaigns have spent more than $12 million on television ads in Arizona during the current election cycle. That’s a jump of more than 400 percent over the last midterm election in 2010.

Bob Mann, Louisiana State University Professor and author of "Daisy Petals and Mushroom Clouds: LBJ, Barry Goldwater and the Ad That Changed American Politics," says the increase is a reflection of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.

He’s also seen signs indicating that future TV ads are going to pinpoint individual voters.

PoliticsThe Show