To date, Democrats have outspent Republicans in both overall ad spending and in swing states, with Democrats also holding the advantage in future ad bookings. Since President Joe Biden withdrew from the race on July 22, nearly $950 million has been spent on advertising for the presidential campaign. Democrats have taken the lead with approximately $563.5 million compared to Republicans' $380.2 million, as reported by AdImpact data.
In swing states, where $762.6 million has been allocated for presidential advertising post-Biden's exit, Democrats maintain a narrower lead of about $418.5 million to $340 million over Republicans.
A significant factor contributing to Democrats' overall lead is their emphasis on digital advertising. Beyond the swing states, the Harris campaign and its supporters have invested over $100 million in digital ads, primarily focused on online fundraising efforts, which have fueled a remarkable surge in fundraising. In contrast, Republicans have spent approximately $27 million on digital ads during the same period.
Looking ahead, Democrats have secured more than $325 million in total remaining ad reservations, with $281 million earmarked for the seven crucial swing states. On the other hand, Republicans have around $185 million in total remaining ad time booked, predominantly in battleground states.
Pennsylvania emerges as a key player in both the states with the highest ad spending thus far and those with the most ad time remaining. Collectively, the parties have already poured over $200 million into advertising in Pennsylvania since Biden's departure, with Democrats leading at $113 million compared to Republicans' $91 million. Notably, there is still $129 million worth of presidential advertising set to air in Pennsylvania, with Democrats having $74 million left to air and Republicans with $56 million in bookings.
