With the number of presidential candidates down to five and the primary schedule starting to spread out, super political action committees have all but gone dark in the past seven days.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, since March 21, only one the top 15 super PACs have spent any money to oppose a candidate. As many candidates have dropped out of the race, their affiliated super PACs have shut down as well, at least for the time being. One of the remaining active super PACs, Our Principles PAC, exists solely to oppose Donald Trump.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics database, the group has spent $14 million this election cycle to oppose Trump. From March 21 to March 25, the group spent nearly $1.5 million against Trump. It was the only major super PAC to spend against a presidential candidate during that timeframe. There are a number of PACs supporting Sen. Ted Cruz, but none has spent anything against Trump, Kasich or Clinton in the past seven days.
From Jan. 31 to March 27, Trump has been attacked most by super PACs, with more than $31 million opposing him. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, now out of the race, was attacked second-most, with nearly $11 million spent against him. Cruz and Kasich, Trump’s remaining GOP rivals, have had roughly $5 million each spent against them.
In terms of negative commercials, Trump has again been attacked the most. Forty-five negative commercials against him have been released since Jan. 31, compared to 41 for all other candidates combined. Rubio again was attacked second-most, with 18 commercials opposing him. Cruz has been attacked by four negative ads, with Kasich attacked by only four.
Much of the spending slowdown likely has to do with the spread out primary calendar. After a packed schedule from March 1 to March 15, only two states voted in Republican contests on March 22. There is a gap from then until April 5, when Wisconsin votes. The next big prize is New York, which votes on April 19. Five states vote on April 26. After that, only five states vote in the Republican contest in the entire month of May. June 7 closes the calendar with five more contests of its own.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Our Principles PAC had not spent any money against Trump since March 20. The most recent update of the Center for Responsive Politics database shows the PAC spent $1.5 million against Trump from March 21 to March 25.
Jason Russell is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
