Oregon Public Broadcasting

With eight weeks left before Election Day, the two leading candidates for Oregon governor have already shelled out wads of cash on TV and radio ads -- more than $2 million so far.

That $2 million is about a third of the combined $6 million Republican Chris Dudley and Democrat John Kitzhaber have raised so far.

Campaign finance reports show they’ve spent about the same portion of their cash on broadcast ads. But since Republican Dudley has raised more money, he's spent more on ads, like this one.

It started running this week.

Announcer: “But now, desperate and behind, Kitzhaber attacks. His ad, sure to backfire…”

That ad was in response to a Kitzhaber commercial from last week.

It was Dudley who ran the first attack ad of the campaign in August.

Polls have shown the two rivals in a virtual dead heat.

After bickering for more than a month over a debate schedule, the candidates have agreed to at least two joint appearances.

At a September 25th forum at the League of Oregon Cities conference in Eugene they’ll answer questions they’ve been given in advance.

They'll also debate on KGW television in Portland on September 30th.