DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES BOOST AD SPENDING

WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) -- Democratic presidential candidates, buoyed by receipt of federal matching funds, are dramatically stepping up ad spending ahead of the Jan. 19 Iowa caucus and Jan. 27 New Hampshire primary.

The Joe Lieberman campaign said spending would hit $1 million a week, from $1 million a month, mostly in New Hampshire but also in states with Feb. 3 and Feb. 10 primaries.

Separately, Sen. Lieberman (D-Conn.) said Jan. 2 that as president he would urge media companies to be more responsible about their depiction of violence against women, especially in video games, and if elected would convene a summit meeting of entertainment leaders and domestic violence experts to raise media awareness.