Advertising spending is increasing in South Carolina, but activity is far behind the pace set in the first two presidential contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, where Republicans collectively spent more than $200 million.
Haley Network Spending: Nikki Haley's campaign has booked about $1.6 million in ad time in South Carolina so far, according to AdImpact data, after committing to spend up to $4 million on an initial ad buy there. The campaign is introducing two new ads, one aimed at former President Donald Trump and the other promoting Haley's record as the state's governor.
Americans for Prosperity Action, the super PAC arm of the Koch family political network, has spent about $3.5 million on ads promoting Haley in South Carolina. SFA Fund, the main super PAC backing Haley's White House bid, has not spent money on ads in the state so far but has said it intends to spend millions there.
Trump Network Spending: Trump's political network ready to move on to the general election, appears to be looking beyond South Carolina. His campaign has spent a small amount on advertising there, about $380,000 in total, and most of it has been small-scale recurring advertising dating back to last August. The main pro-Trump super PAC has not advertised in the state.
Biden campaign spending: On the other side of the aisle, President Joe Biden's campaign recently began airing television ads in South Carolina ahead of the state's Feb. 3 Democratic primary. Total campaign spending remains small, around $380,000, behind a pair of ads: one touting the accomplishments of Biden's first term and another focused on abortion rights.
