Former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and political action committees supporting the candidates have spent more than $20 million in Pennsylvania so far, with the Keystone State so far the recipient of more political advertising than any other battleground state.
A National Public Radio analysis of campaign spending published Sunday found the major presidential campaigns have spent more than $72.1 million so far. Of that money, $21.2 million has been spent in Pennsylvania, meaning about 30 percent of presidential campaign money has been spent in the commonwealth.
According to the WHYY report, “Democrats are outspending Republicans $49.2 million to $22.1 million, respectively,” though the numbers are closer in some states.
In Pennsylvania, the Biden campaign has invested $8.3 million into political advertising, while outside groups aligned with the president have spent an additional $2.5 million. Altogether, the Biden campaign and its allies have spent $10.8 million in Pennsylvania.
By contrast, the outlet reported that Trump has so far spent only around $200,000 of his campaign money in Pennsylvania, while outside groups have so far dedicated $10.5 million to the commonwealth.
While the pro-Biden campaign buys in Pennsylvania came directly from the campaign, the total amount of spending in favor of the current president is only about $300,000 higher than the amount spent on political advertising for Trump.
Other states with significant political spending include Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia.
The former president continues to enjoy a slight lead over Biden in the Real Clear Polling aggregate of Pennsylvania polls, with the publication currently showing Trump 2.3 percent ahead of Biden in the commonwealth.
Trump and Biden are not the only dueling candidates seeking time on the airwaves in Pennsylvania, as both Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dave McCormick and Democratic incumbent Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released their first advertising since securing their respective parties’ nomination earlier this month.
McCormick’s ad accused Casey of being “too dangerous for Pennsylvania” in an ad that noted the Democrat has voted with Biden “98 percent of the time” since the Democrat took office in 2021. According to the McCormick campaign, this Casey “refuses to stand up to Biden.”
Casey’s advertisement focused on his support for Pennsylvania workers, referencing his close ties to organized labor.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Pennsylvania State Capitol Building” by Dough4872. CC BY-SA 4.0
