Are TV political ads worth it?

A Spokesman-Review article in the Northwest section of the paper Saturday heralded the unveiling of the first television ad for Lisa Brown, the Democratic challenger facing Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers in this year's race for the Fifth District representative. The race this year is proving to be competitive.

The report includes a picture of Brown when she brought her infant son to a session of the State House of Representatives in 1993. The article noted $85,000 of campaign funds went to the current television advertising segment.

The article also points out McMorris Rodgers has a lead on...