Election 2016

The Jeb! Campaign Outspends Everyone But His Poll Numbers Fall

Written by SK Ashby

Jeb! has seen his poll numbers fall dramatically over the past several weeks even though his campaign is outspending everyone by a very wide margin.

The Jeb! campaign has spent more than twice as much as the next closest campaign and more than most of the field combined according to NBC News, but he has nothing to show for it.

Through this week, the pro-Bush Super PAC Right to Rise has spent a total of $17.5 million in TV ads, and the campaign has chipped in an additional $440,000.

By comparison, the next-biggest spender in the 2016 race is the pro-Marco Rubio 501c4 group Conservative Solutions Project - which doesn't have to disclose its donors - which has dropped $7.8 million so far in TV ads.

We've seen this phenomenon before. The Jeb! campaign occupied 60 percent of all ad space in New Hampshire last month and yet his poll numbers have continued to fall.

Jeb's campaign recently said they expect to see his poll numbers bottom out before rebounding in the near future, but I see no reason to believe his numbers ever will rebound. Why should they? Will primary voters suddenly decide they didn't give Jeb a fair shake?

If Jeb's downward spiral continues, he could be relegated to the lower tier primary debate just as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was this week.