The Obama campaign has spent 9% of its local TV political ad
budget on Spanish-language media, more than twice as much as the Romney
campaign, but that is still only a combined 5%.
That is according to a study of spending in 10 states -- Arizona,
California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Virginia
-- released Monday by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce from Kantar Media
local TV advertising data.
That is over the entire general election period starting
with the effective conclusion of the GOP primary campaign.
"[W]hile political advertising spending records are being
shattered," said Javier Palomarez, president and CEO of the USHCC,
"neither political party is investing a comparable percentage of their
advertising dollars to reach these voters," adding: "The difference between
rhetoric and action is striking and, frankly, troubling."
The numbers are even lower for Senate races, where Democrats
have spent only 3% of their budgets on Spanish-language advertising, and
Republicans only 1%. On the House side, Democrats have spent about 12%, but
Republicans less than 1%, according to the Chamber.
