WASHINGTON – Forget kissing babies on the campaign trail. The millions of dollars’ worth of political advertisements airing before the early primary elections are turning out to be money well spent: The ads have affected primary results more than other forms of campaigning, including personal appearances by candidates, stump speeches or town hall meetings, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
The AP’s study of advertising purchases, campaign stops and demographic data offers the first tangible signs of how new super political action committees, which can spend unlimited amounts of cash to influence elections, are poised to remake presidential politics this year. So far, those groups have paid for at least $10 million in ads — and GOP voters haven’t even decided whom they want to challenge President Barack Obama for the White House.
The ad frenzy already has taken hold in South Carolina, the site of the next Republican primary. In the weeks leading into the contest, campaigns and super PACs have spent millions hammering their opponents. Last week, the Rick Santorum-leaning Red, White and Blue Fund said it was sinking an additional $600,000 in ads statewide; other groups supporting former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry
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