The Hill News

Social media advertising is only going to grow over the next few years, according to multiple studies. Expect political campaigns to contribute to that growth, giving it a boost in 2012 alone with the millions already being poured into digital ads by presidential campaigns this year.  

ClickZ, a website that reports on digital marketing, reported that President Obama's campaign is on track to spend $35 million on online advertising alone this cycle. That's up from about $16 million the campaign spent in 2008, at the time a record amount. In 2008, Obama’s competitor Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) spent around $3.6 million on online advertising.

Internet marketing research company comScore found that the Obama campaign out-spent Mitt Romney, now the presumed GOP nominee, along with three of the top former Republican candidates by a radio of 10 to 1 over the past six months, according to their study released at the end of April.

But Zac Moffatt, digital director for Romney's campaign, told NPR this week that Romney is ramping up his social media presence heading into the general election and “now both parties get the Web.”

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