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NEW YORK — Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton have unleashed advertisements in nearly all the 22 states that have Democratic presidential nominating contests Tuesday, a combined $19 million expenditure.
On the Republican side, Sen. John McCain and Mitt Romney have a far more restrained advertising effort that started just this weekend and is focusing on a handful of states and national cable television.
The sheer number of contests has ruled out the retail politicking practiced in Iowa and New Hampshire, forcing candidates to choose between paying for advertising or relying on the kindness of free news coverage, as McCain has done.
