Market Data: Political Promotions

Oct 2, 2007

• Candidates for the 2008 presidential campaign are expected to spend at least $2 billion on TV advertising.

• From 2002 to 2006, overall spending on political campaigns doubled to $3.1 billion.

• From 2002 to 2006, campaign spending on newspaper advertisements tripled to $104 million.

• In 2006, $1.7 billion was spent on political TV ads, with cable TV pulling 8% of that.

• In 2005, a record $515 million was spent on political campaigns, the highest amount ever spent in an off-year (no national race) election season. Broken down, candidates running for mayor across the nation spent $72 million (with $44 million being spent in New York City alone). More than $150 million was spent advertising federal issues on TV.

• In the 2004 primary season, presidential hopefuls spent $40 million each.

• In the 2004 presidential campaign, advocacy groups spent an estimated $350 million to promote their cause and/or candidate.

• From January to September 2004, $767 million was spent on political and issue-oriented TV advertising ($154.4 million by Republicans for the presidential campaign, $253.8 million by Democrats for the presidential campaign and $356.8 million for other elections, ballot initiatives, and issue-oriented advertising).


Sources: The Wall Street Journal, TNS Media Intelligence, MarketWatch, The New York Times, USA Today