In the early stages of their general election matchup, Joe Biden has emerged as the dominant force on the airwaves, outspending Donald Trump by a wide margin. Over the past month and a half, Biden's campaign and other Democratic advertisers have spent $27.2 million on advertising for the presidential race, compared to the $9.3 million spent by the Trump campaign and GOP advertisers.
Biden's ad spending has been particularly focused on key battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Georgia. The campaign has utilized its airtime to highlight the administration's first-term record and criticize Trump on issues like the cost of living and abortion rights.
For instance, a recent ad in Arizona targeted the contentious debate over abortion rights, accusing Trump of endangering women's lives by restricting their reproductive freedoms. On the other hand, pro-Trump groups like MAGA Inc. have ramped up their advertising efforts, emphasizing immigration and crime issues in states like Pennsylvania.
Despite Trump benefiting from anti-Biden campaigns by outside groups aligned with the oil and gas industries, Biden's significant fundraising edge has allowed him to maintain a substantial lead in ad spending. The latest Federal Election Commission filings reveal that Biden's campaign has $85.5 million in cash on hand, nearly double Trump's war chest of $45.1 million.
Trump's mounting legal expenses, stemming from ongoing legal battles, have further widened the financial gap between the two candidates. His leadership PAC, Save America, has spent over $70 million on legal fees since the beginning of 2021, diverting resources that could have been used for advertising and campaign efforts.
Despite the disparity in ad spending and fundraising, polls continue to show a tight race between Biden and Trump, with both candidates garnering an average of 47% support among potential voters. The latest Poll of Polls average indicates a neck-and-neck competition, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming election.
