Tuesday's primaries in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island will be as competitive for the delegates at the bottom of the ballot as it is for the presidential candidates at the top – and campaign spending reflects the frenzy, Politico reports.
On Saturday,
Politico posted a breakdown of some of the stakes at play.
The race for GOP delegates
Donald Trump is figured to carry Pennsylvania and win the 17 delegates awarded to the statewide victor, but 54 delegates – three for each of the state's 18 congressional districts – are elected directly on the ballots.
But they aren’t bound to vote for a candidate on the first ballot at the Republican national convention in Cleveland, as the state delegates are, Politico notes.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review had reached 135 of the 162 delegate candidates on the ballot to survey them about their intentions; many of the candidates said they would support the presidential candidate who wins the vote at the top of the ballot in their respective districts.
GOP ad spending
A total of $2.7 million has been spent by GOP candidates and groups in the five states ahead of Tuesday's contests, with Pennsylvania and Maryland the most contested for Republicans, Politico reports. Just under $2 million has been spent in Pennslyvania alone.
Front-runner Donald Trump is spending nearly $1.3 million on ads himself in Pennsylvania, according to data provided by The Tracking Firm; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is spending $561,000 there, and two super PACs backing Ohio Gov. John Kasich are spending a little under $200,000, Politico reports.
Democratic ad spending
Spending by Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and groups allied to them have spent $10.5 million in the five states.
Clinton, who's spending $3.9 million, is favored to win most, if not all, of the contests; Sanders has splurged with $6.6 million spent in the five states, Politico reports.
Additionally, Politico reports $9.7 million in TV and radio advertising has been spent in the Democratic primary in Maryland's local 8th congressional district race.
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