By JULIA SILVERMAN
Associated Press Writer

Posted: Oct. 31 7:32 p.m.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Big tobacco has dumped another $1.2 million into its campaign against a proposed cigarette tax increase, with just six days left until the election.

Spending on the measure has shattered state records. Richmond, Virginia-based Philip Morris has put about $7 million into its campaign committee, Stop the Measure 50 Tax Hike, including a donation this week of $1.1 million.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based R.J. Reynolds is the other big player. That company has contributed $4.9 million to its separate campaign, Oregonians Against the Blank Check, including $150,000 reported this week.

Altogether, that's nearly $12 million, almost four times the $3.2 million that proponents of the plan to raise the cigarette tax to pay for an expansion of children's health insurance have spent. Per capita, that's about $3.33 for every Oregonian.

Most of the money has been spent on television and radio advertising. The tobacco-backed groups are relying on their constant media spots, instead of more traditional get-out-the-vote efforts, like door-to-door visits or phone banks.

"You have to wonder how much more (advertising time) anyone can buy," said Sarah Wetherson, an analyst for Democracy Resources Oregon, which tracks campaign spending. "I don't know that it has ever been tested in this state before."

There's been no public polling on the measures. Insiders on both sides have been predicting that the onslaught of tobacco spending will be enough to sway voters, though Oregonians have previously supported tobacco taxes.

But the new spending, particularly the $1.1 million from Philip Morris, suggests that the industry is not certain of a victory, or at least wants to take nothing for granted.

"Another $1.1 million, six days before election day, is not something a winning campaign needs to do," said Cathy Kaufmann, a spokesman for the Yes on Measure 50 campaign. "That's more than just trying to be safe."

Her campaign is continuing to try to raise money, Kaufmann said Wednesday.

Lisa Gilliam, a spokeswoman for Stop the Measure 50 Tax Hike, the Philip Morris group, said the money was "what we needed, to finish our plan."

"It is not over until it is over," Gilliam said. "We feel that there are still undecided voters out there. We want to make sure that we get our message out in helping them decide that Measure 50 is not good policy."

The previous record for campaign spending in Oregon came in 1992, when PGE spent more than $7 million in inflation-adjusted dollars to oppose two measures that would have shuttered the Trojan nuclear power plant.

Meanwhile, there's evidence that despite the money pouring into the Measure 50 campaign, and a high-profile measure on land-use reform which is also on the statewide ballot, voters are so far tuning out of the election.

Through October 29, only 21 percent of voters statewide had turned in their ballot - about 400,000 of the state's 1.9 million registered voters. Ballot returns were lowest in the state's most populous counties, Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington, and highest in more rural areas, such as Wheeler and Harney Counties.

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