Ohio ranks #2 for presidential campaign TV ad spending

CINCINNATI - If you think you've been seeing a lot of presidential campaign ads on Tri-State television, you're right.

A new survey of national TV presidential campaign ad spending shows that Ohio is second in the country for spending, right behind Florida.

With more than a half billion dollars already spent on advertising for the presidential campaign as of Labor Day, here's how it all stacks up with the so called "battleground" states leading the way.

TV Ad Spending
Florida: $117 million
Ohio: $112 million
Virginia: $85 million
North Carolina: $56.5 million

We may watch them or try to use our DVRs to fast forward through them. But few of us like TV political ads.

"It's just kind of overwhelming. You can't really stay focused on any opinion because each one is so conflicting. Just taking jabs at each other, basically," said Drew Bryant.

"I think it is a bit overloaded right now. People in my view, tend to get inundated by it and perhaps don't pay as much attention to it as perhaps the people putting the ads out think they are," said Connie Kendall-Theado of Oakley.

There is a reason why we're seeing more presidential campaign TV ads earlier than ever in the season. Political analysts say it's a perfect storm for Ohio and the Tri-State.

"Obama won this, Hamilton County, four years ago. The first time since 1964 that a Democrat won Hamilton County. Republicans want to take it back. They are just going to keep pouring money into the state and into the market. The new dynamic this time are the super PACs, that are just dumping tens of millions of dollars into these races," said veteran political analyst Pat Crowley.

People we spoke with in Oakley say the ads have little impact on their decision.

"No. I'll be honest with you. It really hasn't changed my mind and I'm not sure it changes a lot of people's minds," said Kendall-Theado.

Crowley says if viewers see too many political ads, it can be a turn off to voters.

"There is a point of saturation and people are going to get sick of it and people are going to tune out. But it's still works or they wouldn't be doing it. It still drives people to the polls and the Democrats are afraid to take the foot off the gas. Then the Republicans will jump in and the other way around," said Crowley.

He adds that most of the ads aren't just to win over undecided voters but to keep up spirit and excitement for voters who are already committed to one particular candidate over another.