Topeka ? Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius won’t be influenced by an advertising blitz sponsored by the state’s largest health insurer and its prospective buyer, a spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman, Nichole Corcoran-Basso, said Thursday that Sebelius would decide whether to allow Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana’s proposed $190 million purchase of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas based on evidence generated during three days of formal hearings last month not on the ads, which tout benefits of the merger.

“This is a statewide campaign directed at one person,” Corcoran-Basso said of the radio, television and print campaign. “But it’s not evidence.”

Sebelius’ order is due out Feb. 25, but Corcoran-Basso said it might be issued before the deadline.

There has been no increase in the number of people calling and writing Sebelius in favor of the deal since the ad campaign began about two weeks ago, Corcoran-Basso said.

“There are people out there who think this is a good idea,” she said, including more than 63,000 policyholders who voted for the transaction. “We’re just not hearing from them.”

Anthem and Kansas Blue Cross officials said Thursday that the ad campaign was necessary to respond to media coverage and critical comments made by opponents of the transaction at public hearings in December and January.