Political Advertising Spending Reaches Record High

In the lead-up to a closely contested U.S. presidential election, candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris campaigned across key states, each predicting their victory amid a backdrop of unprecedented spending on political advertising, which has exceeded $10 billion for the entire election cycle. Campaign expenditures include over $2.3 billion in the final 15 weeks alone, with Democrats outspending Republicans approximately $1.4 billion to $933 million, focusing heavily on battleground states like Pennsylvania. The campaign has been marked by significant political drama, including two assassination attempts on Trump and his felony conviction, along with Harris's ascendance following President Biden's withdrawal from the race. In San Francisco, campaigns have notably targeted Chinese voters, with nearly $1 million spent on ads in Chinese media outlets, highlighting the premium on reaching diverse voter demographics. As Election Day approaches, both candidates are urging supporters to vote, with Trump also preparing to contest potential election outcomes as he did in 2020. The intensity and financial scale of this election cycle highlight the deep investment in political advertising, raising concerns about its impact on the electoral process.