Presidential Candidates Have Spent Less Than 1% of the $5.5 Billion They're Expected to Rack Up

But spending already 3 times higher than last election

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The 2016 race to the White House might seem like it's already zooming full speed ahead, but in terms of dollar signs, it's only just begun.

Speaking at Advertising Week, FiveThirtyEight founder and election data pundit Nate Silver said candidates have only spent around $20 million to $30 million on ad buys so far. Even The Wall Street Journal's high-side estimate of $47 million would represent less than 1 percent of the combined $5.5 billion candidates are projected to spend on TV and digital advertising this campaign cycle.

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