Travis Ridout
Travis Ridout

Super PACs, political groups that can raise unlimited funds to advocate for candidates as long as they do not coordinate with them, have spent record amounts on advertising this campaign season but are not getting much bang for their buck.

Super PACs associated with 2016 Republican U.S. presidential hopefuls Jeb Bush and Chris Christie have led the way in spending thus far, but the TV, radio, and Internet ads they have purchased have failed to lift either candidate in opinion polls.

“You may have a rich Super PAC, but that’s not going to save you at the end of the day, at least at this point,” said Travis Ridout, a Washington State University professor of political science and co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks political advertising.

So far this year, Super PACs have shelled out $76 million on ads for candidates, compared with just about $5 million over the same period in the last U.S. presidential election cycle, according to a Reuters analysis of federal campaign finance data.

The record spending reflects a sharp rise in advertising in this presidential race, but is also indicative of the hefty prices Super PACs are being forced to pay for television and radio spots. In some instances, they are paying 10 times more than the candidates’ campaigns pay.

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The New York Times