$1 Billion Spent on Political Ads in '09

A media analysis firm finds about $1 billion has been spent on political advertising so far this year, with most of that money going towards -- you guessed it -- the health care reform debate.

TNS Media Intelligence says because 2009 is an off year for elections, that $1 billion figure isn't even close to the record $3.4 billion spent on ads during 2006, Talking Points Memo reported.

Two-thirds of the money spent this year was doled out by issue advocacy groups. While most of it went for television commercials, mostly on local cable, a larger chunk than ever was spent on Internet ads.

But because of the economic downturn, analysts say it's unlikely 2010's political ad spending will break the '06 record.