Spending on TV advertising for Louisiana’s Oct. 24 election has reached nearly $9.4 million, with the governor’s race accounting for most of the money. But spending by candidates for attorney general and lieutenant governor are on the rise as the election nears.
The Associated Press reports 69% of the cash poured into TV ads so far has been spent trying to influence voters’ opinion on the four major contenders in the governor’s race, according to an analysis of ad spending by the Center for Public Integrity.
Of the nearly $6.5 million paid for TV advertising in the governor’s race, $4 million has been spent by the major candidates: Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards and Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter. That accounts for 62% of the TV spending in the race so far.
In the lieutenant governor’s race, Republican John Young, president of Jefferson Parish, has aired $737,000 in TV spots. Spending by GOP candidate Billy Nungesser, former president of Plaquemines Parish, has topped $179,000, much of that spent in the past week as he ramped up his campaign presence on television.
Neither Democrat Kip Holden, mayor of Baton Rouge, nor Republican state Sen. Elbert Guillory has put in money into TV advertising for their campaigns so far, according to the data.
TV ad spending in the attorney general’s race has nearly quadrupled over the last week, with the two main Republican rivals boosting their advertising as the election nears.
Incumbent Buddy Caldwell has spent $142,000 on TV spots, while former Congressman Jeff Landry has poured nearly $165,000 into his television advertising.
Read the full story by The Associated Press.
