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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 …

Republican Super PACs Dominate Early Ad Spending

Travis Ridout
Travis Ridout

In the heaviest advertising month yet during the 2016 presidential campaign, non-candidate groups such as super PACs and politically active nonprofits have dominated the airwaves. The October ad data represents a dramatic outsourcing of presidential campaign messaging. Not even during the 2012 Republican primaries, when super PACs first began supporting presidential hopefuls, did candidate campaigns so completely cede their paid TV messaging to proxy groups. » More …