Snaling the "beginning of the end game in what has already been the most expensive advertising war in presidential campaign history," the New York Times reports (Rutenberg, New York Times, 9/3).

Both candidates have about $90 million in federal funds to spend before Nov. 2, including $75 million they can use on their own and $15 million they can use in conjunction with their political parties. Bush and Kerry plan to focus their ad campaigns on about 20 "toss-up" states, with the first ads for each candidate beginning Friday, according to USA Today (Lawrence/Keen, USA Today, 9/3).

Ads

-- Bush: In one of the ads scheduled to run next week, an announcer says that Bush and Congress have a plan to "lower health care costs," "keep doctors in their communities" and provide "every eligible child with health coverage," the Times reports (New York Times, 9/3).

In another spot, Bush says he will "spread ownership and opportunity" by making the economy more "job friendly," ending "junk lawsuits" and helping small businesses provide health insurance to their employees (USA Today, 9/3).

-- Kerry: According to Kerry aides, the campaign's ads will emphasize "promises" that Bush has made but "failed to keep" (Associated Press, 9/2). In one ad slated to begin running on national cable Tuesday, Kerry says that it is "time to control health care costs and end U.S. dependence on Middle East oil," according to USA Today (USA Today, 9/3).