The Point: A stunning stat on 2020 spending

View this email in your browser October 28, 2019  | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski A stunning stat on 2020 spending So far this year, 2020 presidential candidates have spent almost $41 million on TV ads promoting their campaigns. Which is interesting! But not nearly as interesting as this: Candidates not named "Tom Steyer" have spent just $6 million on TV ads, according to CNN's David Wright. Meaning that Steyer, the billionaire Democrat, has dropped more than $35 million on ads in support of a candidacy that appears to be almost entirely lifeless. Steyer, according to his fundraising report filed with the Federal Election Commission earlier this month, had put almost $48 million of his own money toward the campaign as of the end of last month. He appears to have plowed the vast majority of that personal investment into TV ads aimed at raising his name ID among Democratic voters.  It does not appear to be working. In CNN's latest 2020 poll, released earlier this month, Steyer took just 1% of the vote -- unchanged from where he stood in CNN polling in September. And August. Steyer qualified for the October debate -- the first debate stage he's made -- but didn't leave much of an impression. Less than 1% of respondents in the CNN poll said they thought he had done the best job in the debate. Steyer's massive spending makes two things very clear: Money is not determinative in presidential primaries -- especially when people don't respond to the messenger behind all that money. The air wars on the Democratic side haven't even begun yet. Those are both good things to keep in mind as we consider the state of the race with fewer than 100 days left before the Iowa caucuses. Many of our assumptions about what matters and who is where are based on a campaign that has yet to really begin for the average voter even in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. The Point: The only beneficiary of Tom Steyer's candidacy so far is people who own TV stations. -- Chris QUOTE OF THE DAY "When children hear the sirens of your patrol cars, they race to catch a glimpse, because they know that you are the heroes of their streets." -- President Donald Trump, speaking to the International Association of Chiefs of Police meeting in Chicago. STATES TO WATCH: MARYLAND AND CALIFORNIA Special elections are on the horizon for two newly open House seats with the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings and the departure of Rep. Katie Hill.  In Maryland, look for a special primary election on February 4, with a special general election on April 28. Cummings had held the seat since 1996, and The Baltimore Sun reports a number of Democrats are eyeing the seat. The district's voting blocs are favorably blue: It is 68% Democratic, with just 16% Republican voters and the rest unaffiliated or belonging to third parties. Meanwhile, Cook Political Report has a look at the landscape following Hill's departure in California's 25th District. Hill flipped the district from red to blue in 2018, and now, Cook says, the district leans Democratic. As for the special election date, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has schedule a special all-party primary election within 140 days of declaring a vacancy, which could allow it to coincide with the state's Super Tuesday presidential primary on March 3. CHRIS' GOOD READS Joe Biden, examined "It feels like a horror movie" The Andrew Yang profile you have been waiting for Tulsi Gabbard: On a sign Ads. They're the worst! Men retweet men on Twitter a whole lot more than they retweet women MUSICAL INTERLUDE An acoustic demo version of "I Feel for You" by Prince? Here for it. GIULIANI IN THE MIDDLE The central figure in the Ukraine story is not Trump Two Chrises (Chris Cillizza and Chris Cuomo) discuss Rudy Giuliani and the effort to pressure the Ukrainian government to help President Donald Trump's reelection campaign. For more Chris content, head to The Point on YouTube and subscribe!  LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST Elizabeth Warren: Can count singer John Legend and model Chrissy Teigen among her presidential campaign's supporters. Joe Biden: Called President Trump an "idiot" for dismissing Russian election interference. Bernie Sanders: Has been endorsed by Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, the third member of the "Squad" to back him. Pete Buttigieg: Rolled out a criminal justice plan that includes eliminating mandatory minimum sentences, legalizing marijuana and eliminating incarceration for drug possession offenses. ONE BIG EXODUS 15 The number of House Republicans retiring at the end of this term. Oregon's Greg Walden is the latest addition. Four Democrats are also retiring, while four Republicans and three Democrats are leaving to seek different offices. We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. Follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter. Subscribe to The Point unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences  Copyright © 2019 Cable News Network, LP, LLLP. A WarnerMedia Company. All Rights Reserved., All rights reserved. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to CNN's The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Our mailing address is: Cable News Network, LP, LLLP. A WarnerMedia Company. All Rights Reserved. One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303 Add us to your address book Sign up to get updates on your favorite CNN Original Series, special CNN news coverage and other newsletters.​