Democrats have outspent Republicans on the airwaves since Harris entered race, but GOP is poised for late push

Democrats have outspent Republicans in TV advertising for the presidential race by wide margins in key swing states over the three months since Vice President Kamala Harris launched her campaign, buoyed by record-breaking grassroots fundraising and outside groups funded by deep-pocketed donors.

Democrats have outspent Republicans in TV advertising for the presidential race by wide margins in key swing states over the three months since Vice President Kamala Harris launched her campaign, buoyed by record-breaking grassroots fundraising and outside groups funded by deep-pocketed donors. That’s set to change, however, in the final stretch of the campaign. According to a CNN analysis of AdImpact data covering spending and TV reservations from October 22 through Election Day, Republicans are poised to seize the edge in a few important battlegrounds as Donald Trump’s campaign and his own wealthy supporters counter with a late surge. Through it all, Pennsylvania has loomed large as the top target for both sides: The commonwealth alone has accounted for roughly 22% of all ad buys during the condensed general election matchup, including bookings through Election Day. (Advertising from both sides over the 15 weeks since President Joe Biden dropped out, including future reservations, has crossed $2 billion.) Both Harris and Trump, and their allies, have identified Pennsylvania as the premier battleground of the election, spending more there than in any other state. In fact, the Keystone State saw about $100 million more in advertising than the second-ranked state, Michigan. Democrats have outspent Republicans in the Keystone State by about $37 million over the past three months. Underscoring that status, both sides have been running campaign ads tailored to court Pennsylvania voters. Harris’ campaign has produced multiple spots featuring Philadelphians touting her appeal, while Trump’s campaign has run ads highlighting the state’s lucrative fracking industry. Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin make up the Democratic “blue wall” of Great Lakes states that represent Harris’ best path to locking down the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. In Michigan, Harris and her allies have outspent Republicans by nearly $58 million in the three months since the vice president entered the race – their largest lead in any of the swing states. In Wisconsin, the Democratic edge is about $27 million.