• Adweek, Monday, August 23, 2010 11:10 PM

According to Borrell Associates, political ad spending will reach $4.2 billion this year, double the $2.1 billion the firm estimated was spent in 2008. And Campaign Media Analysis Group, a unit of WPP's Kantar, also expects a record total, with up to $2.8 billion being spent by candidates and various special interest groups, vs. the $2.6 billion it said was spent two years ago, notes Adweek.

It's also striking given that 2010 is a mid-term election, when spending usually dips below the previous presidential campaign cycle. But this year, there is close to 100 congressional elections, vs. the normal 35 to 40. In addition more than half of all the gubernatorial and senate seats are up for grabs.

Local radio is going to have a banner year as well, analysts say, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling opening the floodgates on advocacy advertising. Meanwhile, deep-pocketed Democrats will be spending big over the airwaves to counter anti-incumbent sentiment in these contentious times, reports The Baltimore Sun.

"To some extent, there are no handcuffs - there's very little to limit spending now after the 'Citizens United' Supreme Court case," says Sam Feist, CNN political director and vice president for Washington programming. "The floodgates are open, and the amount of spending district and statewide is going to be absolutely remarkable.

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