How do you know when the absurd amount of money in politics has resulted in way too many campaign ads in the swing states?
When there are so many they are making little children cry.

It’s on the verge of becoming old news in our endlessly revolving media cycle (not to mention in the wake of the latest gun tragedy in Colorado), but I wanted to belatedly take note of the surprising “Firms” TV ad that the Obama campaign began running this past week — you know, the one with Mitt Romney singing “God Bless America” over a montage depicting his history of sending jobs (and his own money) overseas.

Campaigns will often talk a good game about expanding the map and how they can win a state that doesn’t look like a good prospect, but if you really want to know what states each side thinks the election will hinge on check to see if they put their money where their mouth is.

Even before the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, oil has been an issue in the race between Democrat Robin Carnahan and Republican Roy Blunt to replace the retiring Kit Bond in the US Senate. With the spill, things have gotten so bad for Blunt that he’s having to turn on his old pals in Big Oil. Awwwwww . . .

On Tuesday a radio ad hit the airwaves in Arkansas, featuring Barack Obama encouraging voters to support Blanche Lincoln in the Democratic Senate primary later this month. SEIU, which is supporting Lincoln challenger Bill Halter, cut their own ad to directly challenge Obama. You can hear the ad exclusively at Firedoglake.