States Where Biden Is Outspending Trump (and Vice Versa)

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The race to sway voters through TV ad spending continues right on through the month of October. Out of the $700 million that has been spent so far in 14 key states, almost 85% of it has gone to six swing states — Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona — according to Advertising Analytics, as analyzed by NPR.

According to the data, former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign and supporters have spent 90% of their money in those six states, while President Donald Trump’s campaign and supporting groups have spent 78 cents of every dollar.

Here are some other top data points based on NPR’s analysis of the data:

Biden and supporters are focusing more on Texas than Trump — booking $5.2 million in TV ads so far in October. In contrast, team Trump has spent almost nothing in the Lone Star State, which is a red state.

Trump, on the other hand, is focusing on Ohio and Iowa, spending $32 million overall to Biden’s approximately $9 million.

In Minnesota, New Hampshire and Nevada — three states Trump lost to Clinton in 2016 — Trump and supporters are also outspending Biden: $31 million versus $19 million.

And finally, Trump and supporters have spent over three times on TV ads in Georgia, compared to Biden’s campaign and outside groups — $12.8 million versus $3.9 million. However, Biden has reserved $3.9 million in TV ads for October and November.

Check out the state-by-state breakdown of the amount of TV-ad spending dollars each candidate and their supporting groups are devoting to these 14 key states. The states are organized from least to most total dollars spent. Can you guess where the money is going?

Last updated: Oct. 19, 2020

Colorado

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $1.5 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $40,000
Total spending by both candidates: $1.5 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 47.2%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 44.4%
Number of electoral votes: 9

Texas

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $6.7 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $160,000
Total spending by both candidates: $6.9 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 43.4%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 52.6%
Number of electoral votes: 38

New Hampshire

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $3.4 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $6.1 million
Total spending by both candidates: $9.5 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 47.6%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 47.2%
Number of electoral votes: 4

Iowa

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $2.3 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $ 9.7 million
Total spending by both candidates: $12 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 42.2%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 51.8%
Number of electoral votes: 6

Nevada

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $7.2 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $7.8 million
Total spending by both candidates: $15 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 47.9%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 45.5%
Number of electoral votes: 6

Georgia

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $3.9 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $12.8 million
Total spending by both candidates: $16.7 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 45.6%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 51.3%
Number of electoral votes: 16

Minnesota

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $8.9 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $16.9 million
Total spending by both candidates: $25.8 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 46.9%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 45.4%
Number of electoral votes: 10

Ohio

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $6.8 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $22.3 million
Total spending by both candidates: $29.1 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 43.5%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 52.1%
Number of electoral votes: 18

Arizona

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $43.7 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $26.3 million
Total spending by both candidates: $70 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 45.4%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 49.5%
Number of electoral votes: 11

Wisconsin

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $44.4 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $31.8 million
Total spending by both candidates: $76.2 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 46.9%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 47.9%
Number of electoral votes: 10

Michigan

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $55.6 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $21.7 million
Total spending by both candidates: $77.3 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 47.3%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 47.6%
Number of electoral votes: 16

North Carolina

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $37.1 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $49.0 million
Total spending by both candidates: $86.1 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 46.7%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 50.5%
Number of electoral votes: 15

Pennsylvania

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $74.1 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $50 million
Total spending by both candidates: $124.1 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 47.6%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 48.8%
Number of electoral votes: 20

Florida

Biden campaign and supporters spending: $83.5 million
Trump campaign and supporters spending: $82.3 million
Total spending by both candidates: $165.8 million
% of popular vote for Clinton in 2016: 47.8%
% of popular vote for Trump in 2016: 49.1%
Number of electoral votes: 29

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates examined data generated by Advertising Analytics and analyzed by NPR on how much each presidential candidate’s campaign and supporters are spending on television advertising in key states. GOBankingRates presented this data alongside information on each state’s 2016 presidential election popular vote outcome and the number of electoral votes each state carries to provide context for each candidate’s spending allocations. All information was collected on and up to date as of Oct. 7, 2020.