[rayiner]

Note that the $6 billion is for a Presidential election year. The last mid-term Congressional year (2010) was $4 billion. The way these are accounted, there is no election spending for 2009 or 2011 (spending for 2009 is counted towards the 2010 election). Thus, we're talking about $2.5 billion per year, or less than Americans spend each year on scented candles.