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Money Crisis Trims Indie Political Ads

The recent collapse on Wall Street is limiting the number of election ads from independent political groups. Usually a force in the final weeks of a presidential race, ads from outside groups -- such as Swift Boat Veterans for Truth -- are barely evident this year. It seems wealthy potential donors have shied away because they are too busy dealing with their own financial portfolios.

"Most donors lost 20% or 30% of their net worth in eight days," says Phil Musser, Republican fundraising consultant. "That pretty well shut down the money discussion for a lot of folks."

Four years ago, groups outside the party structure invested more than $130 million in TV ads. They have spent only about $17 million so far this year, per the Campaign Media Analysis Group.

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