With a full year left until the 2016 presidential election it’s still unclear who will emerge the winner. But when it comes to millions spent on TV ads, one candidate has already taken the top spot: Jeb Bush.
However, other than some gift baskets from local stations in Iowa and New Hampshire, the former Florida governor has little to show for it, with poll numbers stubbornly stuck in the single digits.
Bush and his supporters have so far spent an eye-popping $20 million in TV commercials during the 2016 presidential race — more than twice as much as any other candidate, according to ad-spending data from NBC partner SMG Delta. The bulk — $19.5 million — was spent by his Super PAC, Right to Rise.
Conservative Solutions Project, the group supporting Marco Rubio, has paid $8.4 million in TV ads so far. While Hillary Clinton’s campaign spent $8.1 million. The Super PAC backing her has shelled out another $199,000.
It’s important to note that campaigns get a discounted rate from TV stations while Super PACs pay about four times the amount campaigns are charged for the same ad.
Here are 2016’s biggest spenders so far:
9. Team Carson: $1.5 million (all from campaign)
8. Team Graham: $1.7 million ($1.6 million from Super PAC, $100K from campaign)
7. Team Sanders: $3 million (all from campaign)
6. Team Jindal: $3.3 million (all from outside groups)
5. Team Christie: $5.7 million ($5.3 million from America Leads Super PAC, $407K from campaign)
4. Team Kasich: $7.3 million (all from two outside groups)
3. Team Clinton: $8.3 million ($8.1 million from campaign, $199K from Priorities USA Super PAC)
2. Team Rubio: $8.4 million (all from outside group Conservative Solutions Project)
1. Team Bush: $19.9 million ($19.5 million from Right to Rise Super PAC, $438K from campaign)
Biggest Spenders This Week (from Nov. 15-21):
7. Team Carson: $214,000 (all from campaign)
6. Team Christie: $313,000 (all from America Leads)
5. Team Kasich: $352,000 (all from New Day for America)
4. Team Rubio: $619,000 (all from Conservative Solutions Project)
3. Team Clinton: $741,000 (all from campaign)
2. Team Sanders: $940,000 (all from campaign)
1. Team Bush: $2 million (all from Right to Rise)