Outside political groups have poured $1.3 million into TV advertising for the Louisiana governor’s race, meaning the conversation about candidates is being at least partially shaped by a small number of donors with hefty bank accounts.
As The Associated Press reports, the spending—largely on attack ads—accounts for 29% of all $4.5 million in TV advertising devoted to the governor’s race so far, according to an analysis of ad spending by the Center for Public Integrity.
And, with a few deep-pocketed donors continuing to pour money into the political action committees without limits, voters likely can expect these independent groups to keep up the mudslinging until the Oct. 24 election.
“We’re stepping into another era,” says Baton Rouge pollster Bernie Pinsonat. “The background noise is so dominating and so massive, the money, that the individual campaigns are having a tough time being able to outpace the PACs and get attention.”
Candidates are pumping significant sums into TV ads as well—about $3.2 million so far, according to the data. With Gov. Bobby Jindal term-limited, the race is wide open.
Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter’s campaign—which has dwarfed the other three major candidates in fundraising—accounts for more than 40% of that TV ad spending by candidates, paying $1.3 million to air spots across Louisiana.
Close behind is Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, who has spent $1.1 million on TV advertising. But Angelle spread the ads over many months as he tried to build name recognition. Vitter’s ads have been more omnipresent because he has spent large amounts in a tight time period.
Two other major gubernatorial contenders—GOP Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards—started TV advertising in the last month, with Dardenne’s campaign shelling out $429,000 through this week and Edwards’ campaign paying nearly $403,000 on television spots.
These figures cover ads aired between Jan. 1, 2014, and Sept. 28, 2015, yet represent only part of the money spent on political advertising. They do not include ads for radio, online, direct mail or TV ads that aired on local cable systems. The estimates also do not include the cost of making the ads.
Read the full story by The Associated Press.
