Public Periscope

Finally, we’re near the top

If it seems as if you’ve seen more political commercials this year than ever before, you probably have. The average Spokane televiewer has seen more political ads than his or her couch-potato counterpart in New York, Philadelphia or Minneapolis, a new study by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University says. … Spokane ranks fifth in the nation for the number of political ads aired over the last 4-1/2 months, the study says. Only St. Louis, Kansas City, Seattle and Detroit have been bombarded by more TV ads.

The study tabulated 13,191 ads during that time period - which seems like the number that run during an average evening newscast. The really scary thing is that the study stopped counting on Oct. 10, and we know there will be way more commercials by Nov. 7. Candidates already are complaining that they can’t buy ads in the time slots they want.

While Spokane may rank only fifth in quantity, we suspect we’d place even higher in a qualitative analysis. It’s doubtful anyone else has ads with chattering-teeth wind-up toys.

One last warning

Today is the absolute, final, no-fooling deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 7 election. Miss this, you miss out - and you’ll have watched all those commercials mentioned above for nothing. … Because it’s so late in the campaign season, the rules are special. You must go down to the county elections office, which in Spokane is in the county courthouse at 1116 W. Broadway, and register in person. … That will allow you to vote by absentee ballot in this election and will give you the choice of voting by mail or at your polling station in the future.

Campaign casualty

Politics can be a rough sport, but Jack Geraghty’s 6th District legislative campaign likely cost him a car. A driver fleeing from police Thursday morning rammed Geraghty’s car while it was parked outside a school on West College Avenue, tossing the vehicle onto a lawn. “That’s the sacrifice of politics,” Geraghty said after watching the car being towed. He doesn’t suspect foul play: “I don’t think (opponent John) Ahern had anything to do with it.”

Catch the candidates

A rally for Vice President Al Gore will start today at 4:45 p.m. at Gonzaga University’s Martin Centre. Call (509) 353-0433 for information on obtaining free tickets. … There are plenty of other events for candidates “down the ticket.” Among them:

Tuesday: Spokane mayoral candidates John Powers and John Talbott debating at the downtown Lions Club luncheon. Noon at the WestCoast Grand Hotel.

Wednesday: Powers and Talbott at the Building Owners and Managers Association. Noon at the WestCoast Grand Hotel.

Thursday: Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., at a downtown Rotary Club and Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce forum. Noon at the Rendezvous restaurant, 1003 E. Trent; $10.50 for lunch. Call (509) 534-8998 for reservations.

Friday: Powers and Talbott again, discussing arts and cultural diversity, as part of the Cubanismo! event. Noon at The Met, Sprague and Lincoln.