Economics

Facebook Is Big Winner in Democrats’ 2020 Presidential Debates

Some candidates are spending more than $1 to snag a $1 contribution

Democratic presidential hopefuls in the first primary debate of the 2020 campaign season on June 26

Photographer: JIM WATSON/AFP
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

The Democratic National Committee’s debate-qualification rules are driving a social-media spending frenzy.

But as the 2020 presidential campaigns spend millions to secure donors and push up polling numbers to win coveted debate slots, they’re also discovering that the economics of online advertising can be confusing — and punishing.