Influence Alley

Three new spots from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget emphasize that people from all backgrounds can recognize a problem when they see it. The biggest problem they see? The national debt, according to the ads.

A host of firms joined AARP to jump into the fiscal cliff debate, sponsoring a new ad against cuts to Medicare and Medicaid that many expect to see in the eventual fiscal cliff deal.

The ABB Group also put out a new ad Thursday to promote energy efficiency. The American Hospital Association ran an ad pushing for better collaboration among providers in the health care industry. In other new ads, Lockheed Martin heralded its F-35 Lightning II fighter plane and Macy's highlighted its efforts to promote respect and positive role models. The Nazarbayev Center called for an end to nuclear weapons testing, and Neustar touted its commitment to neutrality among cell phone providers and networks.

Those with continuing ads, per Kantar Media's Washington Eye, include The ABB Group, America's Credit Unions and the Credit Union National Association, the American Bankers Association, the American Healthcare Association, the American Hospital Association, the American Petroleum Institute, BP, the Coalition for Fiscal and National Security, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, CTIA, Goldman Sachs, Hologic, the Hospice Action Network, the International Council of Shopping Centers, McDonald's, the Service Employees International Union and WTOP-Radio.