• Reuters via Yahoo, Wednesday, October 25, 2006 12:15 PM

Candidates and their political allies will spend a record $2.6 billion on campaigns for the midterm election that will determine control of Congress, according to a watchdog group. That comes to an average of $59 per vote in Senate races and $35 per vote for House contests, says the Center for Responsive Politics.

And with control of the legislative branch on the line Nov. 7, it is no surprise that candidates and outside groups are expected to raise and spend more money than ever before, says Sheila Krumholz, the nonprofit group's acting executive director. "The money in this campaign has been flowing fast and furiously," she says.

And despite a 2002 law that aims to limit the impact of money on the political process, groups are raising more money than ever for television ads, travel, voter outreach efforts and other campaign activities. And the strategies for both sides involve buying lots of expensive TV airtime.

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