The biggest news in political ads over the weekend was a barrage of spots the National Republican Congressional Committee unleashed on a litany of Democrats around the country. Conversely, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee typically flags its media buys in a daily, piecemeal fashion.

Maine Senate

Former “Law & Order” star Sam Waterston followed through on his years-long crusade for moderates by appearing in a television spot for Independent former Gov. Angus King. According to a King spokeswoman, Waterston reached out to the campaign to offer help and the ad was shot in Maine. This spot has $50,000 behind it. Roll Call rates this race as Likely Independent.

New York 19

Democrats are picking up a tactic that Republicans have used over the past two cycles: link the House candidate to the party standard bearer. It is also a reflection of Democratic confidence that Mitt Romney is a drag for Republicans in some regions.

The first ad in this vein is a DCCC spot accusing Rep. Chris Gibson (R) of putting his “party first.” The committee put $135,000 behind that buy on Albany broadcast. Roll Call rates this race as a Tossup.

FedEx Office Goes Political

If you live in cities such as Columbus, Ohio, Orlando, Fla., or Boston, it might be hard for “normal” commercials to break through the political clutter. In a television ad, FedEx Office is criticizing the political process in general. The copy and shipping retail chain has had an ad up for several weeks that plays on the impression voters have on negative campaigning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2eojFZ0c20

Insiders as Outsiders

And our friends at The New York Times picked up on another trend. The newspaper analyzed several campaign ads in which current and former Members are presenting themselves as political outsiders — even though that hardly appears to be the case.