Anti-Hagel Ads Continue to Swell Media Coffers

Stations benefit from campaign to block nomination as Secretary of State

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/6/2013 2:51:00 PM

According to the Sunlight Foundation's Political Ad Sleuth, spending on ads opposed to Chuck Hagel's nomination as Secretary of State now stands at least $212,000.

That is according to an analysis of TV station ad buys reported on the FCC's website per new TV station political file online reporting rules passed last April. Those reporting rules currently only apply to affiliates in the top 50 markets, but that is likely where most of that spending would be. That figure "almost certainly understates the amount of money being pumped into the anti-Hagel campaign," said Sunlight.

But it is still almost $100,000 more than Sunlight was reporting 10 days ago.

Hagel is expected to be confirmed, despite complaints by some Republicans that he does not sufficiently support Israel. CNN was reporting Tuesday that there were enough Republicans who did not support a filibuster of the nomination to block it.