For Iowans, Flood of Ads Is Nearly Over

In the final push to influence the Iowa caucuses, the presidential candidates are making their case in TV ads airing across the state. They've placed more than 42,000 spots in Iowa since early December, according to the latest numbers compiled by Nielsen. The figure represents 65 percent of the total number of political ads placed by presidential candidates on local television across the country.

The leading Democratic contenders--Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Barack Obama--all bought time to air extended ads on Iowa's Wednesday evening news programs. Obama placed more than 10,000 TV commercials in Iowa from December 2 to January 1, while Republican Mitt Romney, who has spent millions of his own money on political advertising in the early caucus and primary states, has placed more than 8,500 television ads in Iowa. Clinton has bought airtime for more than 7,700 commercials in the state. The totals are expected to increase after additional commercials airing yesterday and today are tallied.

Other candidates have focused their TV ad spending elsewhere. Instead of placing ads in Iowa, Republican Rudy Giuliani has bought air time for more than 740 ads in New Hampshire, which holds its primary in five days. Similarly, John McCain has ignored Iowa and placed more than 1,000 local commercials in the Granite State.

That's not to say the contenders who focused on Iowa have forgotten about the other primaries. Today, Romney launched a new 30-second television ad in New Hampshire criticizing fellow Republican McCain for his stance on immigration and taxes.

—Danielle Knight