Presidential ad spending: By the numbers
The Wesleyan Media Project confirms that the 2012 battle between President Obama and Mitt Romney is the most expensive presidential campaign ever
The Obama and Romney campaigns have shattered records for spending on political ads in this year's presidential campaign, a Wesleyan Media Project study confirms. And both sides are unloading a massive final wave of TV, radio, and internet ads targeting voters in the handful of swing states expected to decide what is looking like one of the closest battles for the White House in history. Just how much money are President Obama and Mitt Romney spending? Here, a look at this year's political ad blitz, by the numbers:
$900 million
Amount spent on ads from June 1 to Oct. 21, including from super PACs
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
$600 million
Spending on ads at the same point during the 2008 campaign
915,000
Total ads aired by the Romney and Obama campaigns
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
637,000
Ads aired by the rival presidential campaigns during the same period in 2008
634,000
Ads aired by the campaigns in the same interval in 2004
44.5
Percent increase in the number of ads in 2012 compared to the same time period in 2008
112,000
Pro-Obama ads during the first three weeks of October
97,000
Pro-Romney ads during the first three weeks of October
$87 million
Amount Republicans, including the campaign, party, and their supporters, spent on ads during that time period. In 2008 they only spent $40 million in the same period.
$77 million
Amount the Democratic side spent on ads during that time period. In 2008, Democrats spent even more — about $86 million.
438
Percent increase in spending on TV ads by Democratic-leaning groups outside the official campaign and party
954
Percent increase in ad buys by Republican-leaning groups
$47 million
Cost of advertising paid for by those GOP groups over the past three weeks
$12 million
Amount spent by their Democratic counterparts over that same period
13
Number of the nation's top 15 media markets in which pro-Obama ads, by the campaign and its supporters, have outnumbered those aired by Romney and his backers. The only markets where pro-Romney ads dominated were Columbus, Ohio, and Norfolk, Va.
$1 billion
Amount the campaigns are expected to have spent on the million or more ads they will have aired by the time Election Day finally arrives. "When all is said and done," says Erika Franklin Fowler, co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project, "2012 will go down as a record pulverizing year for political advertising."
Sources: The Daily Beast, UPI, The Washington Post, Wesleyan Media Project
Read more political coverage at The Week's 2012 Election Center.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
What are Lucy Letby's grounds of appeal?
In depth Convicted former nurse's legal team claims judge at original trial wrongly refused her applications
By The Week UK Published
-
Grindr 'shared user HIV status' with ad firms, lawsuit claims
Speed Read LGBTQ dating app accused of breaching UK data protection laws in case filed at London's High Court
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
The best dog-friendly hotels around the UK
The Week Recommends Take a break with your four-legged friend in accommodation that offers you both a warm welcome
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published