Va., Md. Senate Camps Dig Deep

Millions Spent On TV Ad Blitz

Democrat James Webb, U.S. Senate candidate in Virginia, is attempting to raise his profile in TV ads as the campaign ends. A spokeswoman said they emphasize "what he stands for, what he believes in, what type of person he is." (By Matthew Rosenberg -- Associated Press)

Television viewers in Virginia and Maryland are being inundated by a last-minute deluge of commercials from the U.S. Senate candidates and their national political party benefactors, who are pouring millions of dollars into the two states as the bitter fall campaign draws to a close.

The flood of money into the two states means that hardly anyone who watches TV in the next six days will be able to avoid seeing the candidates or their surrogates make a final plea for votes before Tuesday's election. In the Washington area media market, for example, even a casual TV viewer will see 42 campaign commercials for Republican George Allen or Democrat James Webb between now and Election Day, advertising specialists said.

"Each side is dishing it out," said Charlie Cook, who edits a nonpartisan national political newsletter. He said that the money pouring into Maryland and Virginia, especially from Democrats, is staggering. "It's almost as though Chuck Schumer has a printing press in his basement." U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) is chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

In Virginia, that committee has bought $2.6 million worth of TV and radio spots that began airing yesterday, bringing its contributions on behalf of Webb to about $6 million. The GOP counterpart has spent $1 million on ads for Allen.

In Maryland, the National Republican Senatorial Committee contributed $400,000 yesterday to air 93 TV spots on behalf of Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R) on stations in Baltimore and the Eastern Shore. Democrats have pumped $1.7 million into Maryland for U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.).

The money from Washington, combined with the substantial cash raised by the Senate candidates, reflects how critical Virginia and Maryland are to the national political parties. A Steele victory in Maryland could doom hopes for Democratic control of the Senate. A victory by Webb in Virginia could be a disaster for the GOP.

The advertising intensity is particularly acute in Virginia, one of three states with close contests where control of the Senate is likely to be decided. Allen, who started the campaign with a huge financial advantage over first-time candidate Webb, will be outspent heavily by Democrats in the closing days as he fights for his political survival. A statewide poll for CNN released Monday showed Webb with a four-point lead over Allen among likely voters.

"It's clear to us that the DSCC and [Sens.] Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton -- oh, and let me add in John Kerry -- want to buy themselves a U.S. senator," said Allen consultant Chris LaCivita.

Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd promised a heavy dose of Webb on TV, offering "what he stands for, what he believes in, what type of person he is."

A spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Dan Ronayne, said he could not comment on the TV push in Maryland but said, "We see it as a very close race."

Steele spokesman Doug Heye was more optimistic. "I think over the past week, this campaign has demonstrated that Michael Steele has more momentum than any candidate in the country," Heye said. "He's worked extremely hard to put himself in a position to win, and that's what we've seen happen."

A spokesman for Cardin, Oren Shur, said: "Michael Steele has been the chosen candidate of President Bush and the national Republicans from Day One in this campaign. We expect that to continue to Election Day."