> I wish someone would do a study and see how many people have EVER changed their mind due to a political ad. Maybe it’s been done and I am too lazy to find it.

I think they're mostly meant for undecided voters. I don't know about TV ads specifically, but I know that in general, the candidate who spends more usually does win.

That said, I know what you mean. In 2020 I voted for Gideon but by the time the election came around I kind of hated BOTH of them because I'd been subjected to 500 billion dumb attack ads. I bet that the ad deluge turns some people off enough that they end up not voting. I don't know if there are studies on that though, just my hunch.