Sanders becomes first presidential candidate to run TV ads in Indy

The first presidential political ads are airing on Indianapolis stations.

Bernie Sanders’ campaign has placed orders for ads on all five major stations in Indianapolis—spending a total of $87,000 to air 237 spots, according to filings with the Federal Communications Commission.

“It’s called a rigged economy. This is how it works,” Sanders says, talking straight to camera in a 30-second ad that aired during WXIN-TV-Fox59’s news at 10 p.m. on Tuesday. “Most new wealth flows to the top 1 percent. It's a system held in place by corrupt politics, where Wall Street banks and billionaires buy elections.”

The ads are scheduled to continue through Saturday.

They are the first to be aired by any of the presidential candidates—two Democrats and three Republicans—in Indiana, where voters will go to the polls on May 3. But they are not expected to be the last.

Advertising experts and political observers say the presidential candidates and political action committees could spend millions of dollars in Indiana. That’s because both parties’ nominating contests remain unsettled.

Sanders is trying to stop Hillary Clinton from winning the Democratic nomination, although the numbers are in her favor, particularly after a big win Tuesday in New York.

In the Republican primary, Donald Trump has a lead in the delegates but he’s facing a significant challenge from Ted Cruz.. John Kasich is also in the race.

Trump will be in Indianapolis for a rally on Wednesday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Cruz will be in the city Thursday for an Indiana Republican Party dinner. Other candidates are expected to make visits to Indiana as well.