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Nearly 70% of ad dollars in 2016 race come from outside groups

Eighty-three percent of the Republican ad dollars, especially in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire, have come from Super PACs and other outside groups.
A Ben Carson campaign billboard is seen in Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 15, 2015. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty)
A Ben Carson campaign billboard is seen in Des Moines, Iowa, Nov. 15, 2015.
By Mark Murray, Mark Murray

Out of the approximately $150 million spent on advertisements in the 2016 presidential race, nearly 70 percent of it has come from outside groups, according to ad-tracking data from NBC News partner SMG Delta.

But there is a significant difference by party: 83 percent of the Republican ad dollars, especially in early states like Iowa and New Hampshire, have come from Super PACs and other outside groups, versus just a mere 2 percent from Democrats.

Another way to view it: Campaigns are responsible for 98 percent of the more than $25 million spent on ads in the Democratic race ($24.8 million out of $25.2 million), compared with just 17 percent on the Republican side ($21.3 million out of $123.7 million).

One of the biggest reasons for that difference has been the pro-Jeb Bush Super PAC, Right to Rise - the biggest advertiser in the 2016 race - which has spent more than $50 million on TV ads, while the Bush campaign itself has spent just more than $2 million. That's almost a 25-to-1 ratio.

Worth pointing out: Campaigns get discounted ad rates from TV stations, which mean that outside groups typically have to spend more - sometimes four times as much - to air the same television ad.

Ad Spending by Party: Outside Groups vs. Campaigns (NBC News)

Biggest ad spenders to date

  • Team Bush: $52.8 million ($50.7M from Super PAC, $2.1M from campaign)
  • Team Rubio: $29.8 million ($10.6M from campaign, $9.6M from Super PAC, $9.6M from 501c4)
  • Team Clinton: $14.6 million ($14.4M from campaign, $199K from Super PAC)
  • Team Kasich: $10.6 million (all from outside groups, except $289K from campaign)
  • Team Sanders: $10.3 million (all from campaign)
  • Team Christie: $9.9 million ($9.5M from Super PAC, $407K from campaign)
  • Team Carson: $4.3 million ($4.1M from campaign, $200K from Super PAC)
  • Team Cruz: $2.8 million ($1.4M from campaign, rest from outside groups)
  • Team Trump: $2.2 million (all from campaign)
  • Team Paul: $1.1 million ($965K from Super PAC, $125K from campaign)
  • Team Fiorina: $1.0 million (all from Super PAC)

SOURCE: NBC/SMG Delta

This article first appeared on NBCNews.com.