Candidates and independent groups spent at least $8.4 million to air 5,448 television commercials in Connecticut’s U.S. Senate race over the first three weeks of October, pushing the contest into the top 10 for ad expenditures and top 15 for ad volume.
The Wesleyan Media Project said Wednesday that Republican Linda McMahon outspent Democrat Chris Murphy and his supporters by nearly a 3-1 margin on TV, $6.2 million to $2.2 million. The race was the 9th most expensive for TV spending.
Her advantage in commercials aired was much narrower: 3,203 to 2,245. With McMahon spending heavily on New York television to reach Fairfield County, her advertising dollars buy relatively fewer ads. The race was 14th in ad volume.
Wesleyan tracks broadcast and national cable buys. Its data does not reflect local cable ads.