A new report predicts the presidential and congressional races in Michigan may draw nearly $150 million dollars in TV ad spending.
Simon Schuster is the executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. He’s been counting up how much money has been spent on TV ads so far this year and checking how much TV time campaigns and dark money groups have reserved between now and Election Day.
Schuster says the spending reflects Michigan’s status as a presidential swing state and a close U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Gary Peters and Republican John James.
He says the extended voting period tied to absentee/mail-in balloting is also spurring TV ad spending.
“The campaigns on both sides are really counting on this being a strong mail-in election... as a result I think they are adjusting their spending accordingly,” says Schuster.
Schuster says the campaigns and dark money groups may still shift their spending over the next few months, depending on whether they think Michigan is getting more or less competitive.
