Ron DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down cancels $2.5 million of TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire to focus on ‘ground game’
The main political group backing Ron DeSantis' run for the White House is canceling TV ads in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to vote in the Republican presidential nomination contest.
It came as DeSantis lagged far behind Donald Trump in the polls, battling Nikki Haley for second place.
Never Back Down, a super PAC, has dumped $2.5 million in ad bookings in Iowa and New Hampshire and some national slots, according to data from tracking firm AdImpact
The group will shift its priorities to a “ground game” aimed at getting rid of DeSantis voters on Election Day.
Ron DeSantis has three weeks to make up ground on Donald Trump in Iowa
The Never Back Down super PAC is a departure from TV ads
Donald Trump leads DeSantis by 33 points in Iowa
The move followed weeks of reports of unrest within Never Back Down, including the resignation last weekend of top strategist Jeff Roe.
His departure followed the departure of a series of other senior figures.
Never Back Down has already spent at least $40 million on advertising to promote the Florida governor.
The TV advertising role is filled by another group called Fight Right.
A spokeswoman for Fight Right told NBC News that it plans to spend more than $2.5 million on TV ads in Iowa alone starting Sunday.
More than $1 million will be spent on an ad attacking Haley.
It reads: 'Tricky Nikki pretends to be tough on China. But as governor, she promised to do whatever it takes to bring Chinese companies into our backyard.”
Nikki Haley will be the target of a new pro-DeSantis ad labeled 'Tricky Nikki'
DeSantis is struggling to get Trump
In an average of Iowa polls, DeSantis is 33 points behind Trump and just two points ahead of Haley.
Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, polls put him in fourth place behind Trump, Haley and Chris Christie.
In a statement last week, Never Back Down Chairman Scott Wagner said: “Never Back Down is laser-focused on its core mission: running the most sophisticated grassroots and political caucus operation in this race and helping deliver the GOP nomination for Governor DeSantis that will free America. of the left's disastrous policies.
“We're thrilled that Fight Right and others are covering the air for Governor DeSantis as we build the ground game in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and beyond,” Wagner said.