Early evidence is that the recent national election will be easily the most expensive in our history. We’re told that more than $2.4 billion was raised and spent on the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain. When all the other electioneering in the country, local, state and national, is taken into account, the final bill is due to run in excess of $5.8 billion. That’s billion!

There is, however, this sobering note. Even in the current financial crunch, we’re told that as much as $6 billion was spent on celebrations, decorations and costumes for people of all ages for the recent Halloween festivities. How disconcerting is that? To be sure, people have every right to savor happy holiday periods, but cost outlays that run perhaps $2 million greater than what was spent on the vital presidential campaign?

We’ll be told periodically that when an election campaign, particularly one for the presidency, is as exciting, entertaining and creates as much interest as the 2008 marathon generated, we should be glad, and embrace it. But just how much did we learn during all the spending sprees of the past month or so? Why would Barack Obama shell out some $3 million on 11th-hour commercial television appearances when it’s doubtful any minds were changed about voting? It was a commercial that projected nothing new.

Again, here’s a plea to limit the time and money that is spent on American election campaigns. There is no reason for any election period, for any office, to run beyond six months, not with all the media and communication venues that exist to disseminate views and data. If a candidate cannot get across his or her messages in that time frame, they may not have anything to offer.

Then there is the money angle. Surely reasonable limits can be formulated so that nobody is denied outreach.

Yet when the total presidential election-year spending runs lower than the amount spent for Halloween activities, don’t bet on campaign limits in the near future.