Jeb Bush Cuts TV Ad Spending, Focuses Funds on Staff
Jeb Bush's presidential campaign is also undergoing a major shake up, as the former Florida governor announced that he's shifting his resources from TV ads to his ground staff.
As noted, compared to most of the other Republican candidates, Jeb's campaign seems to be suffering the most, which may explain his campaign's shift to cancel $3 million in reserved television ads in Iowa and South Carolina.
In a report by CNN, the Bush campaign is preparing to spend its money by deploying upwards of 60 campaign staffers from its Miami headquarters to the first tour voting states namely, Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. The move will double his staff presence in New Hampshire to more than 40.
Des Moines Register reported that the number of Iowa paid staffers who will make personal contact with voters will be boosted from 11 to more than 20, including its Hispanic outreach director.
Bush will then return to the state to campaign there on Jan. 11 to 13, with stops in Iowa City, Grinnell, Des Moines and Ankeny.
The shake-up also comes as the presidential aspirant redoubles his efforts in the state, where he is locked in a battle with other establishment favorites for top billing in a state that traditionally favors moderate candidates.
Moreover, Bush's super PAC still plans a $3.6 million Iowa TV campaign between now and the caucuses on Feb. 1, but his reduced airtime will still raise questions regarding how he plans to compete in Iowa.
According to Dave Kochel, Bush's top strategist and longtime Iowa staff, "It would be a mistake to assume that this is some pulling out of Iowa," and added, "However, we know that Iowa is a challenge."
However, reports are saying that he will still be visible on voter's TV screens, since a pro-Bush super PAC still reserved more than $19 million in ads across the first three states in coming days.
TIME reported that this is the campaign's second major reallocation of resources, as a budget crunch at the end of the third quarter led the former governor to cut some staff, slash salaries and shift some aides from Miami to the field.
Months earlier, the campaign also cut the salaries of its highest paid aids as fundraising slowed.
The shift to New Hampshire reflects the conditions on the ground in Iowa, where he has a field presence of more than 10 paid staffers, but has failed to gain support of likely caucus-goers. In addition, Bush also expressed hope that he could compete in the state, but most Republicans expect either Ted Cruz or Donald Trump to win the caucuses.
As it stands, Jeb Bush sits in sixth place with eight percent of the support, lagging behind Trump, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Chris Christie and Cruz.
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