In Wisconsin's Senate race, squeaky-clean Democrat Russ Feingold refused to accept any party advertising on his behalf, but his challenger, Republican Mark Neumann, didn't make the same promise. There's good reason why the parties are busting through the issue-ad loophole. Campaigns are increasingly fought on television, not on the streets, and the cost of air space limits what candidates can put out on their own. An issue ad, though, can be funded in part with soft money, which parties can collect in any amount from virtually any source. The Republican National Committee and Ohio's Democratic Party are fighting in court for the right to pay for issue ads entirely with soft money.
Issue ads allow parties to do some of the candidates' dirty work.
One ad engages in race baiting while hammering Bunning's opponent for voting for the North American Free Trade Agreement. Some candidates have attested to a touch of discomfort with ads that convey misleading or offensive messages. But they are probably protesting too much. Issue ads serve to mercilessly savage an opponent's record and force sputtering denials. Yet if the spots come under fire for being too vicious, candidates can still say it wasn't their idea.