New Day for America, the super PAC supporting Republican John Kasich’s presidential bid, announced a half million-dollar ad buy Friday in two states where the Ohio governor has scrambled to strengthen his ground operation.
The group will begin airing a television ad in South Carolina and Nevada next Monday that touts Kasich’s record as Ohio’s three-term governor and flaunts his bipartisan credentials. Kasich, who’s repeatedly condemned his opponents’ decision to air negative attack ads, publicly criticized his leading outside support group last week after they debuted an ad that targeted fellow GOP hopeful Marco Rubio.
“Voters in South Carolina and Nevada will soon know more about the positive message and proven record that are translating into momentum for John Kasich ahead of Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary,” Connie Wehrkamp, a spokeswoman for the PAC, said in a statement.
“This ad buy in South Carolina and Nevada continues to introduce Gov. Kasich to the voters and builds upon the months of grassroots work we’ve done to help position John Kasich for a strong showing in these early primary states,” she added.
This could be interpreted as a signal of confidence, given Kasich’s “New Hampshire or bust” approach to the campaign.
While Kasich’s PAC has had paid staffers on the ground in South Carolina since September, his campaign has channeled most, if not all of its resources into New Hampshire. In late January, Kasich told the Washington Examiner he would have “a lot to do” in South Carolina if he performs well in the first-in-the-nation primary and continues on to the Palmetto State.
“Of course there’s going to be a rush, but they say Napoleon marched across Europe in a week [and] I think I’ve got more than a week,” he said at the time.
