Bush’s $40m ad spree leaves Democrats trailing

PRESIDENT George W Bush spent twice as much as Democrats in just four weeks on the air, pouring about $40 million into television and radio commercials that championed his record and assailed John Kerry’s.

Mr Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, spent about $6m on ads during the same period. But his campaign has been helped by liberal, outside groups that have spent another $14m on commercials, allowing the Democrats to pull even or ahead of Mr Bush in some media markets in competitive states.

Still, with $110m in the bank, Mr Bush has been burying Democrats since March 4, when he first went on the air with heavy levels of television advertising in 18 states, on national cable networks and on radio stations nationwide.