Biden is highest-spending political candidate on TV ads

After spending an additional $45.2 million on political ads this week, former Vice President Joe Biden has become the highest-spending political candidate on TV ads ever, according to data from Advertising Analytics.

By the numbers: In total, the Biden campaign has spent $582.7 million on TV ads between 2019 and 2020, officially surpassing Michael Bloomberg's record spend of roughly $582 million. Biden's spend includes his primary and general election advertising.

• Donald Trump, whose campaign has struggled to raise money in recent weeks, has by comparison spent a total of $342 million in 2019-2020.
• The Trump campaign spent $15.3 million on TV advertising this week and $14 million on digital ads.

The big picture: More money has been spent so far this cycle on election and policy ads than any other in American history, per Advertising Analytics.

• Roughly $7.76 billion has been dropped on political advertising so far this cycle.
• Overall, the election is on track to become the most expensive in history.

Be smart: For the first time ever, spending on digital political advertising has slightly surpassed cable. Still, advertising spent on broadcast television — mostly at the local level — reigns supreme.

What's next: Between now and Election Day, Biden reserved another $57.5 million in TV advertising, while the Republican National Committee and Trump campaign have reserved $19.2 million. The Trump campaign itself has reserved $15 million.

• Future Forward PAC, which supports Democrats, has reserved $42.2 million while America First Action PAC, which backs Republicans, has reserved $20.4 million.