ATLANTA — No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t get away from political commercials during Georgia’s two U.S. Senate runoff races.
FCC regulations make it illegal for television stations to reject valid political advertisements.
Channel 2′s Berndt Petersen talked to people who said they are exhausted by all of it, but thankful that there is an end in sight and celebrating that the ads are about to vanish.
One man Petersen talked to went so far as to quote ‘Popeye the Sailor.’
“I can stands so much, but I can’t stands no more,” Clifton Marshall said. “You’ve got two or three ads repeating itself after the other ad. I got the emails. I got the texts. It looks like everybody and their brother knew I’m a regular voter.”
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John Carter is the type of guy who likes to go about his business, but the ads just won’t leave him alone.
“It’s tiring,” Carter said. “I mean, every day, all day long. The same commercials over and over again.”
Psychologist Dr. Rebecca Johnson Osei said she isn’t surprised that almost everyone is exhausted by it all.
“It’s a major source of stress, and I think people in both parties have deep concerns on what will happen if the ‘other’ party gains power. A feeling like the world is going to go to hell in a handbasket if that happens,” Osei said.
“If you’re trying not to think about it and just go about your day, thinking ‘I’m not going to give to much weight to this,’ and then, boom. Ad. Boom. Phone call. Boom. Text. It’s literally impossible to escape it,” Osei said.
Osei said there is a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter who you want to win.
“For better or worse, it’s over,” Osei said. “Life moves forward. I think it’s important to reality- test our fears. Both Republicans and Democrats have been in power. They usually alternate. So far, we’ve survived.”
Clifton Marshall said he just wants it to be over so he can watch some sports without politics.
“It’s a relief,” Marshall said. “I’m looking for channels that don’t have anything on there. I quit watching the news.”
