Feb. 28, Feature - A new study from the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project has found that in the lead up to last week's Wisconsin primary, Barack Obama spent 5 times as much money as Hillary Clinton on advertising; with his 1.5 million dollars spent, he won Wisconsin with 58% of the vote. Clinton only spent 300,000.

The numbers for Texas and Ohio are likely to be much higher. Texas alone has 20 separate media markets. With the high cost, high intensity, and high stakes campaign, both candidates have received the help of outside groups to buy their ads, It has been a welcome relief and a source for controversy.

When the United Food and Commercial Workers, a union with more than a million members nationwide, began airing this ad in Ohio supporting Barack Obama, it reignited a debate about outside groups buying advertising to support a candidates campaign.

"For once…can we put American jobs…and workers first?…Can we have a recovery that reaches main Street?…Can we stop spending money in Iraq?…And start spending it here?…Can we have affordable healthcare for everyone?…For everyone?…Can we really elect a president we can believe it?…

Obama:
Yes we can

Announcer:
March 4th, your vote, your chance to change America. Barack Obama for president.

Fast Voice:
paid for by United Food and Commercial Workers International Active Ballot Club. UFCW.org which is responsible for the content of this ad. Not authorized by any candidate or any candidates committee."

The Service Employees International Union has also announced plans to air ads supporting Obama in Texas. Hillary Clinton's campaign has criticized Obama for accepting the help of the Unions, claiming that before the Iowa caucus, Obama had criticized John Edwards for accepting union advertising support.

But Clinton also receives outside help. A group of her supporters recently formed a so-called 527 organization called the American Leadership Project. They've begun airing this ad in Ohio, not mentioning Obama by name, but echoing the criticism that Clinton has tried to make stick throughout recent weeks.

"If speeches could create jobs, we wouldn't be facing a recession. But it takes more. As Senator Hillary Clinton passed legislation to bring investment and jobs to struggling communities….."

Democratic Presidential candidate Mike Gravel has filed a lawsuit against one of on pro-Clinton group for what he charges, violates election law by explicitly advocating for a candidate.

Emily's List, an abortion rights organization, is also spending $90,000 on radio ads supporting Clinton in Texas.

"Bush created a real mess…Hillary can get us out though…Hillary is ready, with real solutions and experience…She's ready to go on day one….And Hillary is going to make College more affordable…"

And several coalitions of activist groups have began announcing their intent to run ads criticizing the presumed Republican nominee, John McCain. A group called Vote Vets has a new ad which will be airing on cable in the Washington DC area. It features an Iraq war veteran holding her baby, questioning McCain's support to continue the US occupation of Iraq.

"John McCain says its ok with him if the US spends the next thousand years in Iraq. That's some commitment to the Iraqi people, Senator McCain.

This is my little boy—he was born 1 year after I came home from Iraq. What kind of commitment are you making to him? How about 1,000 years of affordable healthcare? Or 1,000 years of keeping American safe. Can you afford that for my child senator McCain? Or have you already promised to spend trillions in Baghdad?"

The ads paid for by outside groups are likely to increase as November approaches; legally, there are no limits on how much the groups spend, as long as they don't coordinate their campaign with that of a candidate.