CNN: $65 Million Spent on Ads Attacking Unpopular Nancy Pelosi

What do Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi have in common besides the fact that each has served as speaker of the House of Representatives?

Each was the target of record-breaking political ads against him and her, respectively -- Gingrich in 1996, Pelosi in 2010.

According to a new analysis of TV ads for CNN by Campaign Media Analysis Group, "More than $65 million was spent on 161,203 ads that targeted Pelosi from Jan. 1 through last week's election.

"Not since 1996 and Newt Gingrich has a speaker been the target of so many election ads, candidates, groups and party ads from the GOP, putting Pelosi front and center in the midterms."

In 1996, though, election spending was only about one-third of what it is today.

In referencing 2010, CNN said, "The game plan by the GOP, individual campaigns, and independent groups that backed Republican candidates and causes, was simple: Tie as many Democratic incumbents and candidates as possible to Pelosi, one of the most unpopular political figures in America right now."