Decision 2012: 2012 Presidential Campaign Ads Surpass Half-Billion Mark

Spending on 2012 presidential radio and TV ads has surpassed the half-billion-dollar mark, according to an analysis by the NBC News Political Unit. According to NBC, $500 million could feed 9.2 million malnourished children for 50 days or immunize 29 million children for life or provide clean water for 500 million children for 40 days. The real general election campaign hasn't started, but ad spending already equals what was spent on all of the last presidential election.

Class discussion: Does the flood of advertising inform voters about the candidates? Do they tell you what the candidates actually plan to do, or are the statements general and vague about the details? Do you know who is paying for the advertising and what they expect to gain from a candidate if he wins? What do news reports, analysis and editorials say about the role of money in elections? Do the ads influence your opinions of the candidates? How do the ads influence people you know?