Outside money fills airwaves in tight Senate races

By TOM LoBIANCO
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Campaign cash from outside political groups is flooding into conservative states with close Senate races like Indiana and Montana, where residents are less accustomed to a relentless barrage of attack ads on TV.

While the most expensive Senate battles are being fought in presidential battlegrounds like Florida, Ohio and Virginia, Republican-leaning states like North Dakota and Arizona aren't being left out.

Campaign finance expert Darrell West says outside groups get more bang for their buck in smaller markets like Fargo, N.D. For example, Karl Rove's Crossroads groups announced $4 million in ad buys Tuesday targeting competitive Senate races in North Dakota and Montana as well as Florida and Virginia.

Despite a 2 to 1 outside spending advantage, GOP chances of taking control of the Senate have shrunk recently.

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