TV and Radio Ads—General Election

This section focuses on TV and radio ads as announced by the campaigns, although some of the buys were very small.  This section does not aim to include the many paid digital (online) ads which are increasingly important, although sometimes the campaigns were not clear on whether their ads were TV and/or digital.  It does not include the many ads from outside groups.  Keep in mind that, depending on the state and market, some viewers saw a barrage of presidential TV ads, while viewers in noncompetitive states may not have seen any.  Also keep in mind that presidential ads are not run in isolation; viewers see a mix of political ads.  The list below includes transcripts and screen grabs of some of the ads, as well as links (that were active at the time of the campaign).  As the list shows, the Biden campaign produced many more TV ads.  Some of the Biden ads highlighting local people were very effective at generating free media coverage.  (For example, here are three articles from North Carolina press: Russ Bowen.  "New Biden ad aimed at NC's rural communities features Rocky Mount woman, her business."  WAVY, Sept. 25, 2020.  Glenn Burkins.  "In new NC ads, the Biden campaign reaches out to Black men."  QCity Metro, Sept. 14, 2020.  Phyllis Coley.  "Biden's Campaign Releases New NC 'Ads For Black America' Shot in Durham Barber Shop."   Spectacular Magazine, Sept. 14, 2020).

It depends on the state, but typically about two-thirds of ad spending goes into running ads on broadcast TV, and another significant amount into running ads on cable.  Looking at major forms of advertising (broadcast, cable, radio, digital and satellite), the Biden campaign and its allies heavily outspent the Trump campaign and its allies.  See: Spending on Presidential Advertising, May 1-Nov. 3, 2020, with Data from AdImpact.

See also: Primary Ads  ||  Past Cycles: 2016  |  2012  |  2008  |  2004 D, R  |  2000

With assistance from Mike Dec  at 4president.org

Campaign Committees      

Biden for President "In the Dark" (Oct. 27, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable and broadcast in bg states) > "Rising" (Oct. 27, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable and broadcast in bg states) > "Rise Up" (Oct. 27, 2020 - :60 and :30 TV ads, nationwide, targeted bg states  ...Black voters) > "Black Lives Matter" (Oct. 27, 2020 - :60 TV ad, nationwide including bg states...Black voters) > "Yo, Biden" (Oct. 27, 2020 - :30 TV ad, bg states) E, W español "Unidos con Biden" (Oct. 27, 2020 - :60 TV ad, bg states) > español "Make Life Better" (Oct. 24, 2020 - :60 TV ad, during fourth game World Series) > "Go From There" (Oct. 20, 2020 - :60 TV ad, during World Series) > "Tristan Vance" (Oct. 19, 2020 - TV ad, nationally during ESPN Monday Night Football) > "Worth Fighting For" (Oct. 18, 2020 - :30 TV ad, nationally during NFL game on NBC) > "Flex Your Power" (Oct. 18, 2020 - :30 TV ad, Pittsburgh, PA) > "The Blind Pig" (Oct. 18, 2020 - :60 TV ad, nationally during NFL game on CBS) > "Change" (Oct. 14, 2020 - :TV ad, nationally) > "The Conversation Series" (Oct. 13, 2020 - :TV ads, bg states...Black voters) - "Bottom Line" >, "Hate" >, "Just Say" >, "Silenced" >, "Resources" > "Somos Alguien" (Oct. 13, 2020 - :30 TV ad, TX) > "Nuestro Destino" (Oct. 13, 2020 - :30 TV ad, Orlando and Tampa, FL) > "Somos Todos" (Oct. 13, 2020 - :30 TV ad, AZ, FL) > "Like John Did" (Oct. 10, 2020 - : TV ad, AZ, national cable) > "Mayors" (Oct. 10, 2020 - :60 TV ad, bg states...Black voters) > "Stand Together" (Oct. 9, 2020 - :60 TV ad, AAPI voters) > "Same Old" (Oct. 9, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable, bg states...Black voters) > "Clear Choice" (Oct. 9, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national-seniors) > "American Grit" (Oct. 9, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national-workers) > "Failed the American Farmer" (Oct. 9, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national-rural) > "More Important" (Oct. 9, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national) > "Laser Focused" (Oct. 9, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national) > "Arrepentido“ (Oct. 8, 2020 - :60 radio ad, seven states) > español "No Hay Más Que Hablar” (Oct. 8, 2020 - radio ad, FL) > español "Billones de Promeses" (Oct. 8, 2020 - radio ad, FL, PA) > español "Intergenerational" (Oct. 6, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national, TV in select markets...Black voters) > "Mirrors" (Oct. 6, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national, TV in select markets...Black voters) > "On the Ballot Kamala" (Oct. 6, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national, TV in select markets...Black voters) > "Esta Vez" (Oct. 6, 2020 - radio ad, TX) no link  español "La Aliada" (Oct. 6, 2020 - :30 TV ad, markets in 11 bg states) >  español "No Matter What"  (Oct. 6, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable, bg states) > "Gets It Done" (Oct. 6, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable, bg states) > "A Man Guided by Faith" (Oct. 1, 2020 - :60 radio ad, Christian voters) > "Morning" (Oct. 1, 2020 - :30 TV ad, Christian voters) > "Principles" (Oct. 1, 2020 - :30 TV ad, Catholic voters) > "M'hija" (Sept. 29, 2020 - :60 radio ad, TX) >  español "Somos Alguien" (Sept. 29, 2020 - :30 TV ad, AZ, FL, MN, NC, NV, PA and WI) >  español "Wipe Out" (Sept. 25, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national cable, TV in bg states) > "New Start" (Sept. 25, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable, TV in bg states) > "Anthony J." Sept. 23, 2020 - :30 TV ad, PA) > "Our Kids" (Sept. 22, 2020 - :60 radio, bg states rural markets) > "Above All Else" (Sept. 22, 2020 - :60 radio, bg states) > "Shop Talk - Yes She Can" (Sept. 21, 2020 - :30 TV ad Black voters) > "Shop Talk - Criminal Justice Reform" (Sept. 21, 2020 - :60 and 30 TV ad, GA Black Voters) 1, 2 "Homeschool" and "Moving Again" (Sept. 20, 2020 - :60 TV ad on E! in run up to Emmys and :30 TV ad on ABC during Emmys) 1, 2 "Knock On The Door" (Sept. 18, 2020 - :30 TV ad, bg states) > "Dicen Mucho" (Sept. 17, 2020 - :30 TV ad, FL) >  español "Totally Negligent" (Sept. 17, 2020 - :60 TV ad, MI, NC, OH, WI, PA and MN) > "Engine" (Sept. 17, 2020 - :60 TV ad, MI, NC, OH, WI and PA) > "Anthony" (Sept. 16, 2020 - :30 TV ad, AZ, FL and NV) > "Little Brother" (Sept. 16, 2020 - :30 TV ad, MI, MN, NC, PA and WI) > "Do Your Job" (Sept. 16, 2020 - :15 TV ad) > "Unforgivable" (Sept. 16, 2020 - :15 TV ad) > "Marimba" (Sept. 15, 2020 - :30 TV ad PA Black voters) > "Shop Talk - Trust" (Sept. 14, 2020 - :30 TV ad FL, MI, NC, WI Black voters) > "Shop Talk - Our Right" (Sept. 14, 2020 - :30 TV ad MI, NC, PA, WI Black voters) > “Corazón de la Economía" (Sept. 12, 2020 - :60 radio ad) >  español "Arroz" (Sept. 12, 2020 - :60 radio ad, FL) >  español "Dicen Mucho" (Sept. 12, 2020 - :30 TV ad, FL) >  español "Sacred" (Sept. 8, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national cable and bg states) > "Fresh Start" (Sept. 8, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable and bg states) > "Depleted" (Sept. 3, 2020 - :30 TV ad, bg states) > "Jerry" (Sept. 3, 2020 - :30 TV ad, FL seniors) > "We're Listening" (Sept. 3, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable and bg states...Black voters) > "Defend" (Sept. 3, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable and bg states) > "Personal" (Sept. 3, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable and bg states) > "Reeling" (Sept. 3, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national cable and bg states) > "Be Not Afraid" (Sept. 1, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable and bg states) > "Adrianna" (Aug. 30, 2020 - :60 and :30 TV ad, run during MTV VMAs) > "Everybody Let's Vote" (Aug. 30, 2020 - :30 TV ad, run during MTV VMAs) > "Pero Ya No" (Aug. 28, 2020 - :30 TV ad, FL, PA) >  español "Decepciones" (Aug. 28, 2020 - :30 TV ad, AZ) >  español "Keep Up" (Aug. 27, 2020 - 2-min. TV ad, battleground states) > "Preschool" (Aug. 25, 2020 - :30 TV ad, NC...Black voters) > "EcoPower" (Aug. 25, 2020 - :30 TV ad, NC...Black voters)  > "Un Buen Plan" (Aug. 25, 2020 - :30 TV ad, FL) >  español "No Escucha" (Aug. 25, 2020 - :60 TV ad, AZ) >  español "Heal America" (Aug. 24, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable) > "Trump's Boycott" (Aug. 23, 2020 - :30 TV ad, NC, OH) 1, 2 "Backbone" (Aug. 20, 2020 - :30 TV ad, battleground states) > "What Happens Now" (Aug. 20, 2020 - :60 TV ad, battleground states) > "Hombre de Bien" (Aug. 14, 2020 - :30 TV ad, AZ, FL) >  español "Dignity" (Aug. 14, 2020 - :30 TV ad, battleground states) > "Ready to Lead" (Aug. 14, 2020 - :30 TV ad, battleground states) > "Real Plans" (Aug. 13, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national cable) > "Better America" (Aug. 6, 2020 - :60 TV ad, Black voters) > "Made in America" (July 30, 2020 - :30 TV ad, battleground states) > "Backbone" (July 30, 2020 - :60 TV ad, OH) > "Números" (July 29, 2020 - :60 TV ad) >  español "Dignity" (July, 27, 2020 - :15 TV ad) > "Didn't Matter" (July 27, 2020 - :60 TV ad) > "Soñar es lograr" (July 21, 2020 - TV ad, AZ, FL) >  español "Tested" (July 21, 2020 - TV ad, battleground states) > "Truth" (July 21, 2020 - :60 TV ad, battleground states) > "Tough" (July 14, 2020 - :60 TV ad, TX; AZ, FL, MI, NC, PA, WI) > "Cuentas" (June 18, 2020 - TV ad, AZ, FL, MI, NC, PA, WI) > español "My Commitment" (June 18, 2020 - TV ad, AZ, FL, MI, NC, PA, WI) > "Unite Us" (June 18, 2020 - TV ad, AZ, FL, MI, NC, PA, WI) >

Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. "STOP THE STEAL" (Dec. 11, 2020 - :60 TV ad, cable TV) "The Evidence is Overwhelming - FRAUD" (Dec. 11, 2020 - :30 TV ad, cable TV) "Strength" (Oct. 31, 2020 - :60 TV ad on NFL, ACC and Big 10 football, Fox New, Today Show and more) > "Earthquake" (Oct. 29, 2020 - :30 ad) > "¿Por qué?" (Oct. 28, 2020 - :30 ad) Sur de la Florida >, Orlando y Tampa >, AZ and NV > "Uphold the Law" (Oct. 27, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national) > "Joe Biden Will Fail Again" (Oct. 26, 2020 - :30 ad) > "Delaware" (Oct. 26, 2020 - :30 ad) > "Zombie" (Oct. 25, 2020 - :15 ad) > "Jennifer" (Oct. 23, 2020 - :30 TV ad, PA) > "Biden Lied" (Oct. 17, 2020 - :30 ad) > "Insult" (Oct. 16, 2020 - :30 TV ad, cable) > "Influence" (Oct. 16, 2020 - :30 ad) > "Question" (Oct. 15, 2020 - :30 ad) > "Hunter" (Oct. 14, 2020 - :30 ad) > "Deserve to Know" (Oct. 13, 2020 - :30 ad) > "Who's Better" (Oct. 13, 2020 - :30 TV, national cable, bg states) > "Bingo" (Oct. 12, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national cable) > "Real Leadership" (Oct. 12, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national cable) > "Biden Plan" (Oct. 10, 2020 - :30 TV ad, broadcast and cable) > "Carefully" (Oct. 10, 2020 - :30 TV ad, broadcast and cable) > "Despacito" (Oct. 9, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national) >  español "Tony" (Oct. 5, 2020 - :30 TV ad, network cable) > "Peligro" (Oct. 1, 2020 - :30 TV ad, AZ and FL) > "Police Testimonial" (Oct. 1, 2020 - :30 TV ad, network cable and local broadcast in WI, MI, MN) > "Jen" (Oct. 1, 2020 - :30 TV ad, local broadcast, western PA) > "Janelle and Kelvin" (Oct. 1, 2020 - :30 TV ad, local broadcast GA, NC) > "What you get for your vote is important" (Sept. 30, 2020 - :60 radio ad) > "Jack Brewer" (Sept. 30, 2020 - :30 TV ad, cable...Black voters) > "ACB" (Sept. 30, 2020 - :30 TV ad, cable) > "Fuerte" (Sept. 24, 2020 - :30 TV ad, FL) >  español Urban radio ad (Sept. 18, 2020 - :60 radio, bg states...Black voters) > "Seven Hundred Percent" (Sept. 18, 2020 - :30 TV ad, MI and MN) > "Abraham Accords" (Sept. 17, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national cable and bg states) > "Cuento Chino" (Sept. 17, 2020 - :30 TV ad, key states) >   español "Economic Roundtable" (Sept. 17, 2020 - :30 TV ad, cable) > "Chad" (Sept. 17, 2020 - :30 TV ad, AZ) > "Juliette" (Sept. 16, 2020 - :30 TV ad, FL) > "For You" (Sept. 16, 2020 - :30 TV ad, cable and local broadcast) > "Jobs President" (Sept. 15, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national cable and bg states) > "Kim" (Sept. 15, 2020 - :30 TV ad, example of local ad) > Urban radio ad (Sept. 8, 2020 - :60 radio ad, bg states...Black voters) > "Great American Comeback" (Sept. 4, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national cable and bg states) > "Lawless" (Sept. 2, 2020 - :30 TV ads, WI, MN) 1, 2 "Cards" (Aug. 3, 2020 - :30 TV ad, early voting states and national cable) > "Takeover" (Aug. 3, 2020 - :30 TV ad, early voting states and national cable) > "Sammy's" (July 24, 2020 - :30 TV ad, AZ) >  español "Goya" (July 22, 2020 - :30 TV ad, FL) >  español Three radio ads: "Marita y Yesenia" 1; "Están al Garete" 2 (July 22, 2020 - radio ads, FL); "Carmen y Araceli" (July 22, 2020 - radio ad) 3 español "Break In" (July 29, 2020 - :30 TV ad) > "You won't be safe in Joe Biden's America" (July 15, 2020 - :30 TV ad) > "Joe Biden's Dangerous and Foolish Record" (July 9, 2020 - :30 TV ad) > "Leadership" (July 3, 2020 - :30 TV ad) > "Abolished" (July 2, 2020 - :30 TV ad) > "Capacidad mental" (June 30, 2020 -:30 TV ad) >  español "Fortitude" (June 19, 2020 - :30 TV ad, national) > "Just Getting Started" (June 19, 2020 - :30 TV ad ) > "American Comeback" (May 4, 2020 - :60 TV ad, national) >