Va., Md. Senate Camps Dig Deep
Millions Spent On TV Ad Blitz

By Michael D. Shear and Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 1, 2006

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."

Even as their mugs were flashing on TV, the candidates in both states took to the road yesterday, courting voters face to face.

Cardin spent the day in Prince George's County and Baltimore, where he spoke to a minority business group. Steele gave a 40-minute motivational speech at Morgan State University in Baltimore. In Virginia, Webb campaigned with former governor Mark R. Warner (D) in rural areas; Allen rallied in Charlottesville with Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.).

With the clock ticking toward Tuesday, the candidates continued to air negative charges, hoping to depress turnout for their opponents. An Allen ad running frequently in Virginia accuses Webb of failing to take seriously the Navy's Tailhook scandal, in which women were assaulted at a Las Vegas convention in 1991.

Webb has responded with an ad denying Allen's accusations.

"After a campaign filled with nothing but attacks on Jim's character, you would think that now, in the last week, [Allen] would find a shred of decency and keep this positive," Todd said Tuesday. "He can't do it."

LaCivita said that Todd's comments were "the pot calling the kettle black."

Allen and Webb also began airing more positive ads yesterday in hopes of appealing to voters' softer sides. By the end of the week, those ads are likely to become almost as ubiquitous as the attacks that viewers have come to expect as candidates attempt to end the campaign on a high note.

In one new ad, called "Bottom Line," Webb looks directly into the camera and -- in a first for him -- directly asks to be elected to the Senate.

"Bottom line: They're not fighting for you," he says of incumbents in Washington. "I will. We need a new direction, on issues like making health care and college more affordable and setting a real strategy to make our nation more secure. If you're ready for change, I'd be honored to have your vote."

Allen countered with a new ad of his own, in which he says he deplores what he calls false character attacks and distortions of his record.

"That's not how we do things in Virginia," he says to the camera. "As your senator, I want to continue fighting for our shared values. Lower taxes, a better education for our children and a safer, stronger America. I'm George Allen, and I approve this message and respectfully ask for your vote."