Donald Trump will begin running TV commercials in several swing states on Friday, according to The Wall Street Journal:
As he continues to slip in the polls, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is poised to begin airing his first television ads of the general election starting Friday in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, according to a campaign adviser.
Mr. Trump, who frequently boasts that he beat several primary challengers who spent far more money than he did, has yet to air a single television ad since he clinched the nomination. Mr. Trump spent only $20 million on ads through May—compared with $62 million by Democrat Hillary Clinton.
In the past two months, Mrs. Clinton has spent about $61 million on general election ads, while pro-Clinton outside groups have spent another $43 million, according to NBC News. She leads Mr. Trump by nearly seven points in national polls, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average, and has posted leads in a number of battleground states.
First of all, be weary of the “Clinton blowout” narrative. As Frank Cannon wrote on Monday, Clinton’s lead is narrowing and the race is much closer than the media is reporting. With Trump going on the air in important battleground states, that margin is likely to become even closer.
There’s a well-known political axiom that says the “real campaign” doesn’t start until after Labor Day. If that proves true, Trump still has plenty of time to mount a comeback victory. He’s not anywhere close to done yet.
Jon Schweppe is the Communications Director for American Principles Project. Follow him on Twitter @JonSchweppe.
