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Clinton outspends Trump in NC air war

For every ad the Republican nominee puts on the air, his Democratic rival has aired five.

Posted Updated
Trump, Clinton trade jabs
By
Mark Binker
RALEIGH, N.C. — For every ad Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has put on broadcast television in North Carolina during the general election campaign, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has aired five.

That's according to data provided to WRAL News by Kantar Media. Although the data doesn't account for spending on cable television or outreach through direct mail and other methods, broadcast television advertising is the most expensive cost for most statewide campaigns and therefore a good proxy for the resources deployed.

Looking just at money spent by the two campaigns, Clinton has used an estimated $9.3 million to put 22,840 ads on the air since June. Trump has spent $1.7 million on 3,674 ads during the same time period.

That difference remains stark looking only at the first 26 days of September, during which Clinton aired 9,910 ads to Trump's 1,907. Even when spending by outside groups such as the National Rifle Association, which has spent on Trump's behalf, and Priorities USA Action, a liberal group backing Clinton, the gap remains.

Television spending is just one way candidates are signaling North Carolina is a swing state up for grabs. Both candidates have repeatedly visited the state for rallies and private events.

Polls in the state show Clinton and Trump trading leads in recent polls, and the Real Clear Politics polling average giving a less than 1 percentage point edge to Trump.

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