Groups battling over health care overhaul have spent more than $100 million for television ads

Health fight TV ads pass $100 million for the year

WASHINGTON — Medical providers, businesses and other groups battling over a health care overhaul have spent more than $100 million this year on television advertising — an enormous sum that highlights the stakes involved.

Evan Tracey, who heads a private data tracking company called the Campaign Media Analysis Group, says spending on TV ads on the issue hit $110 million as of Sunday. It’s averaged $1.1 million daily in the past week as Congress has stepped up its work on overhaul legislation.

About $47 million has been spent for ads favoring a health overhaul and another $32 million has gone to opposing the effort. The rest has been spent for ads that talk generally about health care.

Big spenders include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AARP.