This is reflected on television. Hoeven adds appear to outnumber Heitkamp ads. In fact, money often becomes an issue in election campaigns. Especially where the money comes from. Democrats will accuse Republicans of attempting to buy the office, while Republicans accuse Democrats of wishing to sell it to moneyed interests outside the state.
Money has another influence on elections.
These tend to play themselves out in newspaper columns rather than on television sets. This is especially noticeable in North Dakota. This year, most statewide offices are on the ballot. In Minnesota, most statewide offices, including the governorship, are filled in nonpresidential years. In Minnesota, it is the campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives that are overshadowed by the big spending in the U.S. Senate race.