But a recent Pew Research Center poll found likely voters split, with both candidates gaining 47 percent of respondents’ votes. With the race neck and neck, both candidates are increasing their campaign efforts in an attempt to gain support among those who still are undecided while also making sure those who plan on voting actually do.

Although Hurricane Sandy has caused both campaigns to cancel events and last-minute fundraisers, each of the candidates still is trying to spread his message and smear the other candidate through television and radio advertisements.

One particular advertisement left many members of the Romney campaign and his supporters saying Obama’s campaign crossed the line.

Actress Lena Dunham, the creator of the HBO show “Girls,” starred in an advertisement for the Obama campaign released on its website last week. The ad features Dunham talking about her first time voting, but clearly holds a double entendre of talking about losing one’s virginity.

“Your first time shouldn’t be with just anybody,” Dunham says directly into the camera. “You want to do it with a great guy … someone who really cares about and understands women.”

Dunham goes on to talk about Obama’s accomplishments during his first term dealing with women’s issues, such as passing health care reform that covers birth control and signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that helps women take employers to court if they find they are getting paid less for the same job.

Many, especially those who support Romney, were offended by the advertisement because they believed it was inappropriate for children.

At this stage in a presidential campaign when the election is this close, each campaign begins tearing apart every action of its competitor. Both campaigns attempt to make positive advertisements from the opposite campaign seem negative and continue to attempt to slander the other by any means necessary.

But at the very least, this ad is helping bring to attention important issues that need to be discussed. It has gotten people, especially young people, talking about the election, and it helps bring to light women’s issues, a topic many would consider to be a very distinct difference between this election’s candidates.

The advertisement no doubt is provocative, but the Obama campaign was successful in helping start a conversation of women’s issues among voters by releasing such a memorable advertisement. The advertisement is well made and noteworthy to viewers, but above all else, it encourages young people to vote for their first time next week.