Colorado Springs is home to fewer than half a million people, yet campaign spending there has tripled since 2008. It’s a glimpse into the impact that political ads are having across the country in a year that has blasted through every previous spending record. Some spots are 14 times the standard price. "That's pretty typical," says Temple political scientist Robin Kolodny, who studies campaign ad spending. Broadcasters know there is a small window of time when they can charge a premium and campaigns will pay it.