May 2, Feature - As the Indiana and North Carolina primaries approach, Barack Obama is again using his giant war chest on advertising. He's outspending Hillary Clinton by a 2 to 1 margin. Andrew Stelzer has more.

In North Carolina, Hillary Clinton has released an ad featuring author Maya Angelou's endorsement, as well as a backyard scene with Clinton speaking to a group of people about the need to care for veterans returning from war.

But as in Indiana, both candidates are focusing many of their current ads on the economy.

"I think this election, particularly here in Indiana, is about jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs."

"She's ready to turn our economy around. Stop tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas. Fix unfair trade deals. Stand up to China."

China also gets a mention in an Obama ad, in which he's giving a speech calling for no tax breaks for companies who ship jobs overseas to places like China.

Indiana and North Carolina vote on May 6th, but the democratic candidates are already looking ahead. Barack Obama has ads airing in Oregon, which holds their primary on May 20th

"As president, I'll expand early childhood education. Recruit more teachers. And pay them better. But the truth is, government can't do it all. As parents we need to turn off the TV, read to our kids. Give them that thirst to learn."

Meanwhile, with the 2 democrats engaged in a heated advertising battle, some independent groups are launching ads criticizing Republican John McCain.

Moveon.org is spending 1 million dollars on an ad to air in Iowa, New Mexico, and on cable nationwide, to launch on May 5th, the 5th anniversary of President Bush's' 'mission accomplished' speech. The ad refers to McCain's statement that he's willing to stay in Iraq for 100 or 1000 more years.

The Democratic National Committee is also focusing on that 100 years statement in one of its two new anti-McCain ads.

And the SEIU bought ad time in Washington DC and Ohio, to criticize John McCain's healthcare plan.

"I help patients who cant afford a check up"
"Or a mammogram"
"Or the prescriptions they need"
"Our next President has to get healthcare costs under control"

"Like President Bush, John McCain won't stop rising healthcare costs."

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Some of the ads by outside groups are facing legal challenges.

The Obama campaign claims that the American Leadership Project, a group running ads for Hillary Clinton, has not registered as a Political Action Committee as required by law, and is accepting unlimited donations. They also have raised questions about the group illegally coordinating their campaign with Clintons, since one of the American Leadership Project's organizers is the son of Clintons Indiana campaign co-chair.

The Democratic National Committee has asked the IRS to investigate Freedom's Watch, a group that's running ads against democrats in several congressional races.

Complicating the matter, the federal elections commission is unable to investigate anything, because they only have 2 of their 6 positions filled.

For Election Unspun, I'm Andrew Stelzer.