Ads—Pre-Campaign and Pre-Primary

Twenty-one major presidential campaigns have run TV ads, although some of the buys have been very small.  Note that this section does not include paid digital (online) ads" which are increasingly important.  The TV ad campaign began to pick up in July when billionaire Tom Steyer entered the race; on July 10 he announced a major ad buy.  Earlier, in the first part of 2019, several campaigns and interest groups did make small tactical buys, but through June 2019, only early-in candidate U.S. Rep. John Delaney had spent significant funds to run TV ads.  He aired his first ad on Feb. 4, 2018 during the Super Bowl in select markets in Iowa, and spent about a million dollars to run a total of seven ads through late July 2018.  Steyer was the biggest spender until Mike Bloomberg appeared on the scene, launching the largest one-week television buy in political history, about $35 million to run TV ads in 32 states from Nov. 25-Dec. 3, 2019.  Fueled by Steyer's and Bloomberg's spending, the volume of TV ads in the presidential campaign is far surpassing the 2016 level.   The Trump campaign has also been on the air, and there have also been a few interest group ads touching on the presidential campaign. 

NOTE
JAN. 24, 2020: THIS SECTION HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED RECENTLY. 

HERE IS A SMALL FEATURETTE WHICH MAY BE OF INTEREST:  Iowa Ad Sample.
See also:  538 "Tracking Every Presidential Candidate's TV Ad Buys."   and   Wesleyan Media Project

Past Cycles: 2016  |  2012, 2012 Super PACs and groups  |  2008Dem2008Rep.  |  2004   |   2000


Nathaniel Rakich.  "We've Already Seen Twice As Many Presidential TV Ads Than At This Point In the 2016 Election." 538, Oct. 23, 2019.   
        
--.  "TV Ad Volume Way Up Over 2016."  Wesleyan Media Project, Nov. 20, 2019.
With assistance from Mike Dec  at 4president.org



Candidate Committees
 
Bennet for America
"Opposite of Trump" (Dec. 27, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"2010" (Oct. 3, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Most" (Sept. 17, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Truth" (Sept. 17, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >

Biden for President (+)
"Right Here" (Jan. 28, 2020 - 2 min. TV ad run in IA) >
"Tested"(Jan. 10, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Soul" (Jan. 3, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Integrity" (Jan. 3, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Enough" (Jan. 3, 2020 - :15 TV ad run in IA) >
"Soul of America" (Dec. 17, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in the early states) >
"Commander in Chief" (Nov. 26, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Build on VAWA" (Nov. 18, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in IA) >
"Moment" (Nov. 12, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Scranton Values" (Nov. 1, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Unhinged" (week of Oct. 7, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in some early states) >
"Personal" (Aug. 20, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in IA) >
"Bones" (Aug. 20, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in IA) >

Mike Bloomberg 2020
Super Bowl ad (Feb. 2, 2020 - :60 TV ad) reported by the NYT
"Colin" (Jan. 7, 2020 - :60 TV ad run in VA) >
"Judge Him" (Jan. 6, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in multiple states) >
"Tough Fights" (ea. Dec. 2019 - :30 TV ad) >
"Opportunity Economy" (ea. Dec. 2019 - :30 TV ad) >
"Problem Solver" (Nov. 25, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in 32 states) >

Cory 2020
"Booker" (Jan. 6, 2020 - :60 TV ad run in Iowa) >
"He Will Win" (Dec. 30, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in Iowa) >
"Together" (Dec. 19, 2019 - :30 TV ad run on cable in 22 markets, incl. early states) >
radio ad (Dec. 6, 2019 - :60 radio ad run in SC) >

Bullock for President
"Justice" (Nov. 20, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA during the debate) >
"Responsibility" (Nov. 6, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Only" (Nov. 6, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >

Pete for America

"Our Chance" (Feb. 7, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"It's Time" (Jan. 27, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Toe to Toe" (Jan. 24, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Committed" (Jan. 13, 2020 - :60 radio ad run in SC) >
"Heart" (Jan. 7, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in SC) >
"Ready" (Jan. 7, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in NV) >
"Only Way" (Jan. 7, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"Windshield" (Jan. 7, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Your Choice" (Dec. 31, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in SC)   ...see below, from Sept. 25 run in IA
"Talk About You" (Dec. 17, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Primer Día Sin Trump" (Dec. 17, 2019 - :30 radio ad run in Las Vegas, NV) >
"Had To" (Dec. 17, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in NV) >
"Honor" (Dec. 13, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in SC) >
"Welcomed Me" (Dec. 3, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in SC) >
"Big Ideas" (Nov. 28, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >   ...also run in NH from Jan. 23
"The Next Era" (Nov. 14, 2019 - :60 radio ad run in SC) >
"Had To" (Nov. 13, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"Unify" (Nov. 13, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in NH) [ed. - this ad not online...seeking clarification]
"Refreshing" (Nov. 13, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Solutions" (week of Oct. 21, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Recruit" (Oct. 11, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Your Choice" (Sept. 25, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Had To" (Sept. 23, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"The Only Way" (Sept. 6, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Fabric" and "The Trial" (Aug. 21, 2019 - :60 radio ads run in rural IA) 1, 2

Julián for the Future
title? (Dec. 19, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Ya basta (A message to Donald Trump | Censored)" (Aug. 13, 2019 - :30 TV ad run on FNC in Bedminister, NJ) >

Friends of John Delaney

"Real Solutions" (Nov. 13, 2019 - 30 min. infomercial run in IA) >
"Truth" (Apr. 2, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in NH) >
"Focusing on the Future" (July 25, 2018 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"A Shared Humanity" (June 20, 2018 - :30 TV ad run in DC and IA) >
"Trump's Trade War" (Apr. 6, 2018 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Families" (Mar. 22, 2018 - :60 TV ad run in IA) >
"Jobs" (Feb. 8, 2018 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Early" (Feb. 5, 2018 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Dirty Word" (Feb. 4, 2018 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >

Gillibrand 2020
"Impossible" (Aug. 20, 2019 - :30 TV run in IA and NH) >
"Imagine" (Aug. 10, 2019 - :30 TV run in IA and NH)
>
"I Promise" (week of July 9, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in targeted markets in PA, OH and MI) >

Kamala Harris for the People
"Me, Maya, and Mom" (Aug. 8, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >

Amy for America
"It's About You" (Feb. 5, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"It's Not" (Jan. 28, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"99" (Jan. 28, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Buckle Up" (Jan. 22, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"What it Takes" (Jan. 3, 2020 - :60 TV ad run in IA and NH) >
'This Time" (Dec. 17, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Questions" (week of Dec. 2, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Whiner in the White House" (week of Oct. 23, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA and NH) >
"All of America" (Oct. 3, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA and NH) >

Moulton for America
"It's Time for a New Generation of Leadership IA" (June 26, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >

Deval for All
"American Dream" (Jan. 14, 2020 - :30 TV ad run on CNN during debate) >
"Not Too Late" (Jan. 6, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >


Bernie 2020
"Social Security (NH)" (Jan. 30, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"Our Side (NH)" (Jan. 16, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"Strive (NH)" (Jan. 15, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"Patients Before Profits" (Jan. 1, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >  (also run in NH)
"Billionaires" (Dec. 18, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"For All" (Dec. 10, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >  (also run in NH and from Feb. 6, 2020 in CO)
"Big Us" (Nov. 26, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Belongs to Us" (Nov. 11, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >  (also run in NH)
"Fights for Us (NH)" (Nov. 7, 2019 - :60 and :30 TV ads run in NH) >
"Iowa First" (Oct. 25, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Hope" (Oct. 21, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Fights for Us" (Oct. 3, 2019 - :60 and :30 TV ads run in IA) >

Joe Sestak for President
"United" (Oct. 13, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >

Tom Steyer 2020
"Tom and Deanna" (Dec. 12, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in SC) >
"Save the World, Do It Together" (Dec. 3, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Too Bad" (Nov. 19, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Real Economic Power" (Oct. 9, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"The Right Thing" (Oct. 8, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Talk to Trump" (run on Fox and Friends in the five days leading up to Oct. 15, 2019 debate) >
"Together" (week of Oct. 7, 2019 - :30 TV ad to run in early states) >
"Village" (Sept. 25, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Not Even You, Donald" (Sept. 12, 2019 - :30 TV ad run nationally and in DC) >
"Economy" (Sept. 10, 2019 - :30 TV ads run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Climate Change Voter" (Sept. 10, 2019 - :30 TV ads run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Trust the People" (Aug. 14, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Trump is a Fraud" (July 30, 2019 - :30 TV ad run nationally and in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Money Where His Mouth Is" (July 10, 2019 - :30 TV ad run nationally and in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Keeping the Promise" (July 10, 2019 - :30 TV ad run nationally and in IA, NH, NV and SC) >

Swalwell for America
#BanAndBuyback ad (June 7, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in early states) >

Warren for President
"Courage to Unite" (Jan. 31, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"She Can Win" (Jan. 31, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Best Leader for These Times" (Jan. 31, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Someone Great for America" (Jan. 31, 2020 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
title? (Dec. 4, 2019 - :30 TV ad run one time on Bloomberg TV in NY) >
"Root Out Corruption" (Oct. 25, 2019 - :60 TV ad run on FS1 during Iowa State Oklahoma State football game) >

Marianne Williamson for President
"Like a Boss" (Dec. 20, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in IA) >
"Reparations - An Idea Whose Time Has Come" (Oct. 30, 2019 - :60 TV run in SC) >

Friends of Andrew Yang
"Paycheck" (Nov. 15, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"Our Son" (Nov. 15, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >
"A New Way Forward" (Nov. 7, 2019 - :60 TV ad run in IA) >


Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.

"Criminal Justice Reform" (Feb. 2, 2020 - :30 TV ad run during the Super Bowl) >
Game 7 World Series Ad (Oct. 30, 2019 - :30 TV ad run during the final game of the World Series) >
"Facts" (Oct. 9, 2019 - :30 TV ad run nationally and locally in IA, NH, NV and SC) >
"Changing Things" (Oct. 3, 2019 - :30 TV ad run on national cable) >
"Biden Corruption" (Sept. 27, 2019 - :30 TV ad run on national cable) >
"They're All the Same" (July 30 and 31, 2019 - :30 TV ad run on CNN, MSNBC and FOX News) >


Outside Groups



Act Now On Climate (pro-Inslee)

Ad 2 (July 30, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
Ad 1 (Mar. 5, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA and on national cable) >

Club for Growth Action
"Dumb Things" (June 27, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >
"Pedigree" (Mar. 11, 2019 - 2:00 TV ad run in IA) >

Demand Justice
"Michael Bennet–Helping Trump is NOT  a Good Look" (May 7, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in NH) >

Partnership for America's Health Care
"Same Thing" (July 30, 2019 - :30 TV ad run nationally)
>

Reason to Believe PAC (pro-Patrick)
"Reason to Believe" (Jan. 9, 2020 - :60 TV to run in NH) >

Unite the Country (pro-Biden)
"Refuse to Give Up" (Dec. 17, 2019 - :30 ad) >
"Courage" (week of Dec. 9, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >

United We Win (pro-Booker)

"The Other Rhodes Scholar"(Nov. 29, 2019 - :30 TV ad run in IA) >

 


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