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Survey helps people see where they stand with presidential candidates

Travis Ridout
Travis Ridout

Voter surveys of the presidential race have come a long way in the 80 years since The Literary Digest predicted Alf Landon would make Franklin Roosevelt a one-term president.

FDR actually won the 1936 race in a landslide and The Literary Digest poll became a notorious example of what happens when a survey doesn’t contact a diverse enough group people. » More …

Dark Money Dominates Political Ad Spending

Travis Ridout
Travis Ridout

Groups that don’t have to disclose their donors have accounted for almost two-thirds of political ad spending this cycle. The so-called dark money groups—social welfare organizations, associations and others—which aren’t required to reveal the interests behind them, have put up more than $213 million on political ads since the start of 2015. The groups have promoted their views on everything from climate change to health-care policy to immigration. » More …

Political ad experts weigh in: is Donald’s new spot a campaign trump card?

Travis Ridout
Travis Ridout

Candidates running for office in 2016 are expected to spend a record amount of money on political advertising.

Last year, Wells Fargo Securities reported that an estimated $6bn was going to be spent on political ads in 2016, up 16% from the 2012 campaign season. Billionaire candidate Donald Trump’s new commercial is one of the first of the year, and also the first released by the Republican frontrunner. » More …

It’s Time for 2016 TV

Travis Ridout
Travis Ridout

To fill the holiday vacuum before the next presidential debates in December, campaigns are taking to the airwaves.

Leading U.S. presidential candidates have stepped-up their television advertising blitz to keep a presence in voters’ minds as attention gravitates to the traditional holiday rituals of family, travel, shopping, worship, and football. » More …