If you think you’ve been seeing more presidential ads on New Mexico airwaves than you did this time last year, then you’re right, according to the University of Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Advertising Project.



And if you feel that you’ve seen more ads for the Republican presumptive nominee, John McCain, than his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, then you are right again.



The Wisconsin Advertising Project released a report detailing the amount of ads by both candidates in all 50 states and nationwide. In New Mexico, at least, it showed that McCain outspent Barack Obama by $180,000.



Overall, the report says, "Obama has spent $6 million more than McCain on television advertising, including the spending by the [Republican National Committee] decreases the margin to roughly $2.3 million." The Democratic National Committee has yet to air a single ad in any state.



“Obama’s fundraising totals allow his campaign to purchase more ads,” said Ken Goldstein, director of the Wisconsin Advertising Project in the release, “but, to this point, we have yet to see that advantage translate to a massive advantage in paid media.”



According to TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG with analysis by the Wisconsin Advertising Project, McCain began airing general election ads (those after June 3) two weeks earlier than Obama in New Mexico and other key battleground states. While McCain began airing TV ads in New Mexico on June 6, it took until June 20 for Obama to begin airing general election TV ads.



So far, $799,000 has been spent on TV ads between the two candidates, the analysis showed.



And the subject of the ads has largely been on Obama — from both candidates.



 

Over 90 percent of the ads aired by Obama are positive in nature and do not mention Senator McCain. In contrast, approximately a third of the McCain campaign’s ads are negative, contrasting the two presidential candidates. None of the ads aired by the RNC are positive — all compare the two candidates, referring to Obama negatively. “This campaign is about Barack Obama, not John McCain,” explains Goldstein.



Case in point is the most recent McCain ad, which compares Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. The ad does not mention McCain’s name until the end when John McCain declares, "I’m John McCain and I approve this message."



And it is not unusual for McCain to not appear in his own ads until the end; the report says: "To date, McCain has narrated 20 percent of the ads sponsored by his campaign, while Obama has narrated 51 percent of the ads sponsored by his campaign."



One thing is clear for New Mexicans: TV watchers can expect the ads to continue until November.