It's so awesome being a battle ground state

That's why I watch all TV on DVR. So the only ads I watch are the ones that are visually arresting enough to make me want to stop zapping through.

As for the political ads, the only ones I end up watching are the ones covered by Daily Show or Colbert, where they end up poking fun at the "facts" brought out.

I know negative ads are overall effective enough that both sides keep using them. But to me, all they do is further polarize the country. If you are already on side A, side B's negative ad seems only to make you hate side B more. If you are on side B, the same ad "confirms" what you already think. And if you are truly undecided and neutral, since both side A and side B run similar ads ("here's why the other side sucks, so you should vote for us") just tear down without offering a single useful solution or idea, you should just be left with a nasty taste in your mouth. Something like a cross between licking the floor in front of the urinal at a bus station restroom and giant bite of the droppings of a sickly cow.

And that's what I don't get... I have never seen marketing surveys or analysis on how effective they are. They have to be or they would not spend millions and millions on them. But I'm with you, I don't understand how they are effective for the reasons you give. And for the moderate undecideds out there... well perhaps they are a step above sheep..

So as a undecided voter, looking at who to vote for, and an ad comes on saying Romney is in favor or burning all babies, but then if you elect Obama for a second term he will fight hard for legislation to extinguish all burning babies... I mean how in the heck does that sway anyone when it is so obviously misleading or flat out false?

Yet people keep complaining about them, candidates keep complaining about them, news outlets keep pulling their covers saying they are misleading or lies.... yet here I am watching non stop negative ads by both candidates... and not from PCAs mind you, from the candidates.

Exactly... the ad with the factory worker that was tossed out on his can... that is from a PAC and not Obama. And the Old lady that lost her medical coverage... "Romney made me sick"... really? You expect that from PACs... which is BS in the first place. The candidate gets all the bang with none of the buck or connection.

But ya, the outsourcing, FALSE. Can't point to a single job outsourced by Bane... yet non stop play, heavy rotation.

Try living in FL.  It's 24/7.  I cant even watch a youtube video w/o having to watch a political ad before....

I do find it interesting that Colorado has become a battleground state.  Being in Texas now, we really don't have the back and forth that CO now has.  It is also interesting how Democrats spend a little money there in El Paso County.  That area has been Conservative for so long that most Democrats shy away from it.

But, as far as the negative ads go, I am disappointed in both camps.  Don't tell me how bad the other guy is - tell me how good you are!

I was watching the news last night and they were discussing the money spent here... but ya, this is business as usual in FL and OH. I should probably quite complaining.

This is why you just turn the TV off!  One can only say "liar, liar, pants on fire" so many times before on goes a little bonkers.

Just because they did not themselves outsource doesn't leave them in the clear, anymore than the mob boss who only "suggested" it would be better if Jimmy Two-Pants had a "long vacation" is in the clear when Jimmy turns up at the landfill with a double tap in the back of the head.

Or try to be a 3rd party voter in any state.

lol, love it.

back to the OP I think its worse being next to a battleground state.  I live in Omaha and because southwestern iowa feeds off our TV station's we get all the dam ads too.  But I don't even get the benefit of having my vote amount to anything being in a very RED state.

you people still subscribe to cable/dish?  hahahahaha

you would think with all your training you wouldn't really have time to watch anything anyways :P

Agreed, living in TX the only interesting thing is that more people gave money to Stephen Colbert's Super PAC than any other party at the beginning of the Republican Race for President.  

I find most of the ads humorous in nature, but being someone with common sense, I actually read what I can about the issues from reliable sources, Voting records, etc.  

Most of the ads I see have the stipulation on the bottom "Paid for by supporters of Romney/Obama"

One of the best books I ever read was "What's the matter with Kansas"  It's about how the campaigns get people to vote against candidates that are beneficial to their social and economic well being.  Interesting take.  

Unfortunately a dumb electorate requires dumb/negative ads with no substance and no facts.

Supply and demand. We are a country of idiots who vote based on the latest 30 second sound byte so that is what we get.