Is advertising really that important to a presidential campaign?
Oh, it is. It really is. I can't tell you the number of studies that have shown advertising means a whole lot more than debates and a whole load of other campaigning techniques. The only other more effective means is by personal interactions--which, obviously, is limited by things like sleeping and so forth
Not that I don't find it reprehensible. I actually get sick over the thought of starving children who could be fed by the amount of money we spend in elections. But, when you consider that the US is one of the major world forces (if not *the* major one, for better or worse), the election matters a whole lot--and we have a gigantic country to cover--all of which means an insane amount of spending.
