• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, October 25, 2024

In a presidential election media year that so far has been dominated largely by unpaid media, the Democratic and Republican tickets have reserved nearly $1 billion ($968 million) in ad bookings nationwide from today through November 5, with more than 20% being allocated to seven battleground states, according to estimates released this morning by ad-spending tracking platform AdImpact.

Nearly a third of the battleground media buys have been allocated to just one state -- Pennsylvania -- living up to its nickname as the Keystone state.

In total, the Trump/Vance ticket has booked marginally more ad buys across the seven states: $107 million vs. $100 million for Harris/Walz.

From a media market liquidity point of view, Pennsylvania is extremely tight for the final 12 days of the 2024 campaigns, because of record down-ballot spending too.

"While Pennsylvania is flooded with Presidential ads, the Keystone state will also see a plethora of Senate ads as $37.6 million is booked through Election Day," notes AdImpact's analysis, adding: "Both the House and Senate elections have over $200 million reserved. House Districts in California have the most money booked next week, totaling $45.7 million in the state."