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In Campaign Ad Race, Bloomberg and Corzine Dominate Opponents

2 minute read | October 2009

With less than a month to go before Election Day, Nielsen analyzed the ad buys in three of the most anticipated political races this year:

NEW YORK CITY: Incumbent Mayor Mike Bloomberg is dominating his competition in the ad buying race. Between June 1st and September 20th, Bloomberg purchased 4,706 TV ads in the New York market – no small feat considering New York is one of the most expensive markets in the country. The figure dwarfs the number of ads bought by Democratic challenger Bill Thompson, whose campaign bought just 14 TV ads over the same period – all of which ran on or after September 18th.

MONTH BLOOMBERG (I) THOMPSON (D)
June 1044 n/a
July 1294 n/a
August 1484 n/a
September* 884 14
TOTAL 4706 14
Source: The Nielsen Company 2009

Note: Data based on Spot TV ads placed in the New York City DMA

* – Through September 20th

NEW JERSEY: Recent polls show a slim lead for former prosecutor Chris Christie over incumbent Governor John Corzine. But since Christie was tapped as the Republican nominee back in June, the ad race has been much more lopsided in favor of his Democratic rival. Gov. Corzine has placed 3 ½ times more TV ads from June 3rd to September 20th, outscoring Christie 4,806 to 1,393 in the New York City and Philadelphia markets combined.

MONTH CORZINE (D) CHRISTIE (R)
June n/a n/a
July 1908 113
August 1306 532
September* 1592 748
TOTAL 4806 1393
Source: The Nielsen Company 2009

Note: Data based on Spot TV ads placed in the New York City and Philadelphia DMAs

* – Through September 20th

VIRGINIA: In the Old Dominion governor’s race, Republican Robert McDonnell hopes that history repeats itself as he takes on a Democratic opponent in Creigh Deeds whom he narrowly beat out for the attorney general seat four years ago. Since the Virginia primary ended in June, McDonnell has placed more ads across Virginia’s multiple TV markets with a score of 4,382 to 3,986 through September 20th. But more recently, Deeds has been a bigger presence on Virginans’ TV sets with 3,028 ads in the first three weeks of September alone compared to 2,753 ad buys for McDonnell.

MONTH DEEDS (D) MCDONNELL (R)
June* n/a 636
July n/a 340
August 958 653
September** 3028 2753
TOTAL 3986 4382
Source: The Nielsen Company 2009

Note: Data based on Spot TV ads placed in Washington, Norfolk, Richmond,

Roanoke-Lynchburg, Charlottesville,  and Tri-Cities DMAs

* – Beginning June 11th

** – Through September 20th

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