Today’s number: $379 million
Monday, Oct 20, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WaPo…
According to the Center for Public Integrity, $379 million has been spent on commercials in the 36 gubernatorial races this fall — $58 million more than has been spent on ads in the 36 Senate races. That includes a stunning $62 million in ads in the Florida race between Gov. Rick Scott (R) and former governor Charlie Crist.
In Illinois, Quinn (D) and wealthy businessman Bruce Rauner (R) have spent almost $53 million on TV.
And eight of the 10 candidates who have spent the most money on campaign commercials this cycle are running for governor.
Keep in mind that Florida is a lot bigger than Illinois, with more expensive media markets.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 11:45 am:
NYT Mag yesterday had a piece on Florida. Basically a climate change money fight: Steyer and crew for Crist, the Koch Boys and friends for Scott.
Welcome to the post-CU word, where free speech goes to the highest bidder.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 11:54 am:
Rick Scott is fading fast. This one might be over.
Three polls in a row have the Georgia governor race tied. I am betting the younger Carter squeezes out a win.
I am not counting Rauner out because he has goo-gobs of money, but right now things do not look good for him. And you only have to look at the way his own campaign is careening to know that internally, they know they are in trouble.
- Skeptic - Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 12:20 pm:
Imagine if that money had been spent on schools or roads or . . .
- Shark Sandwich - Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 12:34 pm:
I would have thought there would be a lot more money fanning the FL Gov’s race..
- Losing My Edge - Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 12:59 pm:
“Imagine if that money had been spent on schools or roads or . . .”
Money is fungible. Political donations are not taxed (and therefore not tax-deductible) but the vendors those contributions are used to pay do theoretically pay taxes, so conceivably, a portion of that money WILL be used for state expenses such as roads or schools. If you’re really so concerned, you should probably find out who on your ballot is shopping locally for their campaign supplies, services, etc. and who isn’t.
- Anooner - Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 1:19 pm:
Why don’t we levy a tax on campaign spending in Illinois?
A 10% levy on TV ad spending would raise some serious money for a our under funded schools.
Voices For Illinois Children…where are you??
- Arizona Bob - Monday, Oct 20, 14 @ 3:33 pm:
@Anooner:
=Voices For Illinois Children…where are you??=
Where they always are…laying in bed with the teachers unions and the fellow travellers who fund them…
And of course they’re feathering their nests for the next time the Dem leadership throws some patronage jobs at them as a reward for their “independent” activism (Jerry Stermer, your table is waiting).
In that way, they’re not that different from the the involuntarily “retired” journalists in Illinois. Ever notice how many “independent” journalists wound up on Dem communications or political staffs or got jobs in K-12 public education after their papers folded? A lot of my old friends at the Southtown wound up there when the roof fell in.
Hey, ya gotta eat, but it’s always interesting to see how many wound up eating off of Dem plates after career changes.
Hey, their good people, smart and savvy, but not to many wound up working with the GOP.
Rewards for services previously rendered?