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More platforms, more ads: Ohio's $400 million campaign budget

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Experts predict ad spending in Ohio will top $400 million. Nearly a half billion dollars will be spent to get you to vote for a U.S. Senator, decide a constitutional amendment, a member of Congress or a rapid bus line tax.

It's easy to say it’s become ridiculous, but someone, somewhere thinks all that money is worth it.

But it’s not just the total spending on ads that has changed—it's where we are seeing them and how candidates and campaigns are using various platforms to get their ad messages out. Political ads are no longer just reserved for prime-time broadcast or cable television.

Joining us to talk about the world of political advertising is longtime political strategist Bob Clegg.

Snollygoster of the week

JD Vance and Donald Trump continue to get flack for their false allegations that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets. Vance said last week his claims were based on allegations that were "verifiable" and "confirmable" — not "verified" and "confirmed." And as you know, there is no evidence the pet abuse happened.

Then one week later came a report from CNN that the Republican candidate for governor in North Carolina, Mark Robinson, made racist posts on a pornography website. Vance responded to a question from a local NBC reporter in Philadelphia about the scandal, saying, "allegations aren't necessarily reality."

If you have a suggestion for our "Snollygoster of the Week" award, a question or a comment, send them to snollygoster@wosu.org.