Top Points:
Republican Ad Dominance: Republicans are significantly outspending Democrats on television and radio ads, with $68 million spent by Trump and his allies compared to just $2.6 million by Harris' team. This 25-to-1 spending ratio is shaping early voter opinions in the crucial period following Biden's exit.
Harris' Immediate Impact: Kamala Harris has quickly made her mark as the Democratic nominee, breaking fundraising records and drawing extensive media coverage. Her campaign raised $100 million in just over a day, and her allies secured $150 million in commitments, highlighting her rapid momentum.
Strategic Concerns: Despite Harris' media coverage and fundraising success, some Democrats are worried about the impact of Republican attack ads. Ads labeling Harris as "the most liberal nominee ever" and focusing on her progressive record are shaping voter perceptions, emphasizing the need for Harris to define herself quickly.
Full Report:
In a striking contrast, Republicans are outpacing Democrats on the ad airwaves in the looming Trump vs. Harris presidential race. Kamala Harris, freshly positioned as the Democratic Party's likely nominee, faces a barrage of Republican-backed ads targeting her character, progressive record, and knowledge of President Joe Biden's decline.
So far, Democrats haven't engaged in the summertime ad battle, giving Republicans a significant edge. Donald Trump and his allies are outspending Harris' team 25-to-1 on television and radio ads, totaling more than $68 million for Republicans compared to just $2.6 million for Democrats, according to an analysis by The Associated Press using data from AdImpact.
This disparity highlights a potential threat to Democrats as millions of voters form opinions about Harris, who has largely been in Biden's shadow for the past four years. Some Democrats are sounding the alarm.
"Public opinion is like cement. It's soft at first and then it hardens," said Sarah Longwell, co-founder of Republican Voters Against Trump. "The next three weeks are definitive. She needs to define herself before Trump defines her."
Despite Harris only securing Biden's endorsement recently, she has benefited from extensive media coverage, much of it positive. Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio described it as "Harris' honeymoon" in a memo predicting a poll surge for the Democratic vice president.
Harris spokesperson Kevin Munoz emphasized that the vice president "will make her case aggressively alongside a campaign infrastructure designed to win close elections."
"In just 24 hours, Kamala Harris put abortion rights front and center for voters, broke fundraising records, and spun Donald Trump into a manic and public breakdown — because he knows she is best-equipped to prosecute the case against a convicted felon like himself," Munoz stated.
Harris' campaign raised $100 million between Sunday afternoon and Monday night, with allies, led by the super PAC Future Forward, securing donor commitments of $150 million in the first 24 hours after Biden exited the race.
"Advertising is important and will pick up, but it's not the only factor," said Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin. "With Harris taking over as the presumptive nominee, she's getting wall-to-wall largely positive coverage. You always need to take in the context of the entire media ecosystem."
Some Harris attack ads are starting to shape the narrative. Biden allies have expressed concern over a new ad from Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick, which labels Harris as "the most liberal nominee ever" and highlights her progressive positions on immigration, policing, energy, and healthcare.
The pro-Trump Preserve America super PAC, backed by casino magnate Miriam Adelson, has reserved $45 million in advertising through the end of August, with MAGA Inc. booking another $23 million. In contrast, Democrats recently halted their ad spending after significant investments to boost Biden before he dropped out.
Biden's campaign spent over $138 million on advertising from January 1 through Sunday, featuring ads targeting Trump but also including Biden, who is now seen as a political liability for Harris.
Future Forward, a pro-Biden super PAC, is set to launch a $129 million advertising campaign in September. But for now, voters only see ads attacking Harris.
One such ad from MAGA Inc. blames Harris for "a border invasion, runaway inflation," and the demise of the American dream.
"Kamala knew Joe couldn't do the job, so she did it," says the narrator in the ad, which began airing Sunday across Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona. "They created this mess. They — no, Kamala — own this failed record."
Original Story by The Associated Press, Newsmax
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