US presidential candidates, their super PACs spend over $500M in 16-day campaign

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL (AA) – Top US presidential candidates Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have significantly increased their spending on advertising and voter outreach, according to reports

The Harris and Trump electioneering, along with their main allied super political action committees (PACs), spent half a billion dollars on their campaigns in just 16 days, the New York Times.

The Harris and Trump campaigns spent about $265 million during that period. Additionally, the main pro-Harris super PAC and the four main pro-Trump super PACs contributed roughly an additional $260 million.

These reports provide a near-current view of the financial situations of Harris and Trump, reflecting activity from Oct. 1 through Oct. 16.

Harris spent $166 million during the 16-day period, nearly matching her total spending for the entire month of August, with $130 million allocated to media.

Trump’s principal committee spent $100 million throughout the 16-day period. This amount exceeds what he spent in June, July, and August combined, with $88 million of that total allocated to advertising.

In early October, Harris and her allied committees raised $182.6 million. In contrast, Trump and his allied committees raised approximately half of that amount, totaling $92.1 million, during the same 16-day period.