Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) super PAC just canceled 2024 campaign advertisements that were set to air on Iowa and New Hampshire televisions.
The cancellations were first reported by AdImpact Politics.
"Pro-Ron DeSantis group Never Back Down is canceling all of its 2024 reservations in Iowa and New Hampshire. So far, we've tracked cancelations totaling $2.5M," the group revealed in an X message on Friday.
Many are interpreting this as the latest sign that DeSantis's 2024 campaign is fizzling out. But, DeSantis' people are disputing this.
Never Back Down chairman, Scott Wagner has put out a statement claiming, essentially, that the decision to cancel television advertisements in Iowa and New Hampshire is all part of their winning strategy for DeSantis' 2024 campaign.
"Never Back Down is laser-focused on its core mission – running the most advanced grassroots and political caucus operation in this race and helping deliver the GOP nomination for Governor DeSantis who will deliver America from the disastrous policies of the Left," Wagner wrote.
He added, "We are thrilled to have Fight Right and others covering the air for Governor DeSantis while we work the ground game in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and beyond."
Fight Right, according to spokesperson Taryn Fenske, is expected to spend $2.5 million in Iowa before the start of the caucuses, and over $1 million of these funds are expected to go to television spots.
Good Fight, another pro-DeSantis group, is also expected to spend over $1 million on television spots in Iowa for the DeSantis campaign.
Suffice it to say that DeSantis' 2024 campaign has not been going according to plan.
DeSantis was expected to be neck-and-neck with former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, but polling indicates that DeSantis trails Trump, on average, by 52.2 percentage points, which many consider to be an insurmountable lead.
Trump is also dominating his rivals in Iowa and New Hampshire, two important early states in the Republicans' primary calendar.
In recent months, there have been signs that DeSantis's campaign is flagging. Amid reports of infighting, Never Back Down has seen several big-name departures. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) has nearly taken the number two spot away from DeSantis in the polls.
With all this being said, it is clear that DeSantis has not thrown in the towel. It appears that he and his people are still trying to find a way to revamp his 2024 campaign. Will have to see if this regenerative effort is more successful than previous ones.
