As part of an $8.1 million ad buy beginning Wednesday, Mitt Romney's presidential campaign has bought $361,000 worth of spots in Wisconsin, according to a Democratic source tracking ad buys.
The Romney buy, which will run through next Tuesday, also includes spots in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia in addition to Wisconsin, the source told CNN.
After news of Romney's buy emerged, the Obama campaign said it will also buy ad time in Wisconsin.
"Now that the Romney campaign has gone on the air - in addition to its super PAC allies - we are adding broadcast advertising to our campaign efforts in the state," spokesman Adam Fetcher said. "This is another opportunity to have a conversation with the people of Wisconsin about the crystal clear choice in this election."
This is the second highest amount Team Romney has spent on commercials in the key toss-up states since the general election media campaign began in May.
Romney's campaign, which spent $4.25 million last week in its first ad buy since the Republican convention, did not initially include Wisconsin when it unveiled specific ads for eight battlegrounds. This weekend it broadened its campaign when it unveiled a spot for Wisconsin. CNN recently rated the state a toss-up on the CNN Electoral Map.
A source familiar with the Obama Wisconsin ad buy told CNN the re-election campaign commercials will start airing Wednesday in the state. Team Obama, according to this source, is expected to top Romney's $361,000 buy in the state by "a lot." The source was not authorized to speak on the record about the ad spending details.
Several Republican-leaning super PACS are not advertising in Wisconsin, a signal that they did not view the state as competitive.
Both Wisconsin native Rep. Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden are campaigning in the Badger State this week.
Prior to this buy, the Obama re-election campaign had not advertised in Wisconsin recently.
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