COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The conflict over two controversial ballot issues has become a multi-million dollar war of words, fought on a battleground filled with TV commercials.

The issue campaigns are likely to set a new record for campaign spending in Ohio.

In its campaign expense report released Thursday, the opponents to issue 6, the plan to build a casino near Wilmington, said they spent $27.3 million.

Most of it went to media expenditures.

Meanwhile, supporters of issue 6 spent $21 million.

The two sides have not only fought on the airwaves, but also in the Ohio Elections Commission. At issue is the truthfulness of opposition advertising.

The state’s other hotly contested issue election, a proposal to repeal new state regulations of payday lending, also generated millions of dollars in campaign spending.

The payday lending industry, which placed issue 5 on the ballot, reported spending $13.8 million dollars.

Consumer advocates who are promoting a “yes” vote spent just $260,438.

In a written statement, Bill Faith, treasurer of the Vote Yes On 5 Committee, called the amount spent by the payday industry “staggering.”

“This is a David vs. Goliath battle,” Faith said.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com