Sen. Ted Cruz is poised to go on television in Iowa, as his presidential campaign on Wednesday made its first substantial, albeit modest, advertising buy of the 2016 primary.
The Texas Republican purchased $140,500 of broadcast television time in this key early primary state one day after the latest nationally televised GOP debate. Cruz is running a concerted campaign in all four initial voting states and throughout the south. But his strategy for consolidating the conservative vote requires a strong showing in the Hawkeye State, where first votes will be cast on Feb. 1.
The Cruz ads were initially scheduled to run in Iowa Nov. 16 through Dec. 6, media sources confirmed. The Cruz campaign bought time in the media markets of Des Moines-Ames ($77,800); Cedar Rapids-Waterloo ($48,000) and Sioux City ($14,700). The senator’s team did not respond to request for comment.
Keep The Promise III, an independent super PAC supporting Cruz, also purchased television time in Iowa on Wednesday. It’s advertising buy was even smaller than the Cruz campaign’s, however. The outside group’s $18,750 buy was set to run Nov. 16 through Nov. 24, and is heaviest in Sioux City, among the more conservative communities in the state, with the rest going to Des Moines-Ames and Cedar Rapids-Waterloo.
The senator is currently running fourth in Iowa, according to the RealClearPolitics.com average of recent polls. He ranks second in the Washington Examiner’s presidential power rankings after a few strong debates.
The next Republican debate is scheduled for Dec. 15.
