Advertising Roundup: Pols Defend Google Deal, Advertisers Get Sneaky, and More

Silicon Valley politicians say Google-Yahoo lawsuit endangers industry — California House Democrats want the DOJ to go easy on Google and Yahoo, claiming a lawsuit would “detrimentally affect the online advertising market and electronic commerce.” Turns out, two of them received the majority of their campaign donations in 2007/2008 from computer and Web companies. [Source: ClickZ]

Advertisers plot new ways to get in front of consumers — Portfolio’s Willow Duttge reports that the ad industry is getting even more creative in terms of finding new ways to broadcast their messages. Among the new “media” they’re using: the wall above urinals, pizza box flaps, and even paychecks. [Source: Portfolio]

Tough market for a new Hummer model – Even though fuel prices sent Hummer’s sales down 45 percent through August, parent company GM is hoping a new pickup truck model aimed at outdoorsy, adventurous guys on a slightly leaner budget (those making $90,000, as opposed to the usual $120,000) will have fresh appeal. Unfortunately, Hummer’s ad budget has gotten leaner, too — it’s at $35 million, down from $85 million-plus last year. [Source: AdWeek]

What ‘facial coding’ says about Obama, McCain campaign ads — AdAge reports on how to measure the effectiveness of campaign ads by analyzing consumers’ facial expressions. [Source: AdAge, YouTube]