Since becoming the Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris has significantly outspent Donald Trump on digital advertising, investing ten times more in online campaigns. A Financial Times analysis revealed that Harris has spent $57 million on Google and Meta ads since President Joe Biden exited the race on July 21, while Trump has allocated only $5.6 million.
This stark contrast indicates a divergence in campaign strategies, with Harris focusing heavily on online outreach, whereas Trump appears to be conserving funds and relying more on traditional media to deliver his message.
Both campaigns have primarily invested in Alphabet and Meta to secure visibility across platforms like Google search results, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. In today’s digital age, online advertising is crucial for presidential candidates to spread their message and raise funds.
Harris’ campaign recently announced a $90 million advertising blitz over the next three weeks to introduce her to voters and highlight the differences between her and Trump. The campaign will emphasize Harris’ personal story, her career as a California prosecutor, her dedication to challenging powerful interests, and a contrast with what they describe as Trump’s “dangerous, extreme agenda.”
In July, Harris’ campaign raised $310 million and entered August with $377 million in funds. So far this month, Harris and Democrat-aligned groups have spent nearly $110 million on television and digital ads, compared to $73 million by Trump and Republican allies. Harris’ campaign alone accounts for $31.3 million of that spending, while Trump’s campaign has spent $20.3 million.
Despite this, Republican allies have committed more money to ads through the end of the month, with $83.6 million planned, compared to $25.8 million from Harris and her allies. These figures do not include Harris’ latest campaign announcement.