Political Ads -- Where are the Democrats?

With the advent of TiVo, I hardly ever watch commercials anymore, except in the morning when I have the Today show on. Lately, it has been overrun with political ads. Oddly, though, they are all for Republicans.

First, Michael Steele, the Republican candidate for Senate in Maryland is running all of these ads railing against attack ads by the "political consultants in Washington." But I haven't seen a single ad for his opponent, Ben Cardin, much less a negative one. What is disturbing is that Steele comes across as a normal person, rather than the wingnut I suspect him to be.

Second, George "Macaca" Allen, the Republican candidate for Senate in Viriginia, is running ads calling his opponent, Jim Webb, a "fiction writer" who is disrespecting "Ronald Reagan's widow" by claiming that Reagan liked him. (He was a Reagan appointee after all.) This ad comes across as very odd if, like me, you have never seen Webb's ad. Also, George? THERE IS A WAR GOING ON. Whether James Webb is showing the proper amount of respect for Nancy Reagan does not seem like the most pressing issue facing our country right now. And, um, I don't know how to break this to you, but you might not be the right candidate to run on the character issue, what with your history of confederate flag worshipping, N-word using, and use of a noose as an office decoration and all.

Finally, Maryland governor Bob Ehrlich, has been blanketing the airwaves with ads extolling his virtues. No word yet from his opponent Martin O'Malley.

What's going on? Do the Democrats assume that they have the DC suburbs in the bag? Or do they not like the Today show?