Presidential TV advertising spending continues to grow; Over $28 million spent from September 28-October 4
Obama outpacing McCain in nearly all competitive states.
Traditional battleground states continue to receive majority of TV ad spending.
MADISON, WI – Over the past week, presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama and their campaigns have spent over $28 million on television advertising. From September 28 through October 4, the Obama campaign spent just under $17.5 million while the McCain campaign and the RNC spent just under $11 million combined. Compared to the first week of September (September 6-13) the amount of campaign advertising has nearly doubled, going from a total of $15.5 million to $28.3 million.
During the similar week in 2004, the Bush and Kerry campaigns and their party and interest group allies spent just over $18 million dollars. As was the case during the first week of September, the Midwest battleground states of Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin received over half the money spent by the two campaigns on television advertising. McCain spent a larger percentage of his advertising budget in these Big 10 battleground states than did Obama (60.2 percent to 46.5 percent respectively). Ohio drew the greatest amount of advertising spending as the Obama campaign spent $2,218,000 and the McCain campaign spent $1,727,000. The Obama campaign also spent over $2 million each in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The McCain campaign did not spend over $2 million in any individual state.
“Ten of the fifteen states where both candidates are advertising were won by Bush in the 2004
election,” said Ken Goldstein, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and director of
the Wisconsin Advertising Project. “The campaign is being played on the Republican side of the
field this year.”
The Obama campaign is now out-spending the McCain campaign and the RNC in nearly all of
the competitive states. During the first week of September, the McCain campaign was either
ahead or even in ad spending in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire,
New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. But during the week
of September 28-October 4, the only states where McCain out-advertised Obama were Iowa and
Minnesota. Over the past week, the two campaigns were roughly even in spending in Colorado,
Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the Obama campaign
has outspent the McCain campaign by a margin of over 3 to 1 in Florida, over 2 to 1 in New
Hampshire, over 3 to 2 in Nevada, over 8 to 1 in North Carolina, and over 3 to1 in Virginia.
“Because of Obama’s fundraising advantage, his campaign is able to spend more in more states
than we’ve seen in recent memory,” said Goldstein.
Obama outpacing McCain in nearly all competitive states.
Traditional battleground states continue to receive majority of TV ad spending.
MADISON, WI – Over the past week, presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama and their campaigns have spent over $28 million on television advertising. From September 28 through October 4, the Obama campaign spent just under $17.5 million while the McCain campaign and the RNC spent just under $11 million combined. Compared to the first week of September (September 6-13) the amount of campaign advertising has nearly doubled, going from a total of $15.5 million to $28.3 million.
During the similar week in 2004, the Bush and Kerry campaigns and their party and interest group allies spent just over $18 million dollars. As was the case during the first week of September, the Midwest battleground states of Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin received over half the money spent by the two campaigns on television advertising. McCain spent a larger percentage of his advertising budget in these Big 10 battleground states than did Obama (60.2 percent to 46.5 percent respectively). Ohio drew the greatest amount of advertising spending as the Obama campaign spent $2,218,000 and the McCain campaign spent $1,727,000. The Obama campaign also spent over $2 million each in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The McCain campaign did not spend over $2 million in any individual state.
“Ten of the fifteen states where both candidates are advertising were won by Bush in the 2004
election,” said Ken Goldstein, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and director of
the Wisconsin Advertising Project. “The campaign is being played on the Republican side of the
field this year.”
The Obama campaign is now out-spending the McCain campaign and the RNC in nearly all of
the competitive states. During the first week of September, the McCain campaign was either
ahead or even in ad spending in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire,
New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. But during the week
of September 28-October 4, the only states where McCain out-advertised Obama were Iowa and
Minnesota. Over the past week, the two campaigns were roughly even in spending in Colorado,
Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the Obama campaign
has outspent the McCain campaign by a margin of over 3 to 1 in Florida, over 2 to 1 in New
Hampshire, over 3 to 2 in Nevada, over 8 to 1 in North Carolina, and over 3 to1 in Virginia.
“Because of Obama’s fundraising advantage, his campaign is able to spend more in more states
than we’ve seen in recent memory,” said Goldstein.
