United Australia Party may have more backing than polls suggest, with voters too embarrassed to voice support, analysis shows

Hour-long TV ads on commercial networks aired before media blackout as part of fringe party's projected $70m 2022 federal election campaign spend

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Clive Palmer's United Australia party is burning through its projected $70m election advertising spend, including hour-long television commercials, as a data analyst warns the fringe party could have more backing than polls predict, with some voters embarrassed to voice their support.

At 9.45pm on Wednesday - hours before the blackout for election ads on broadcast media came into effect - Channel 10 ran an hour-long UAP ad which marketing analysts believe cost up to $600k but would have been discounted due to the mammoth ad spend by the party.