Trump silent in ads, Clinton talks up kids

Donald Trump has shown more than 586 hours of television ads in the general election, and until now something has been missing: his voice.

There is no footage of him speaking, no archival recordings to build out his life story and no direct-to-camera appeals to voters. He doesn't utter a word other than the legally required recording, "I'm Donald Trump, and I approve this message," at the end of his commercials.

That's about to change. In one of the final ads of the race, the Republican presidential nominee will take his case to the voters, his campaign says.

AP found a lack of Trump's voice in his own commercials and an overabundance of his words in Clinton's.

Clinton's chief advertising message is that she fights for children. Her ads dive into photo and video archives to showcase those parts of her resume, and actor Morgan Freeman describes Clinton in melodious cadence as "a woman who spent her life helping children and families."

"I've spent my life fighting for children, and I'm not stopping now," Clinton says in an ad that's been broadcast more than any other during the general election. The spot does not go into specific policy or achievements, but shows Clinton over the decades talking about children.

The same message is delivered in a new, end-of-campaign spot that has rocketed to the top of her play list. This one shows parents marking off the heights of their kids as Clinton says a country is judged by what it does for its children.

Clinton strategist Joel Benenson said such ads remind people of the work Clinton has done and tell voters something they may not know about her work for children, families and women. He also said it strikes a clear contrast with Trump.