DeSantis wields coveted Kim Reynolds endorsement in second Iowa ad

Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) presidential campaign debuted its second ad on Wednesday, which focused on Gov. Kim Reynolds’s (R-IA) endorsement of him.

In the 30-second spot, “Endorsement,” DeSantis’s campaign touted the popular governor’s support. “We need someone who puts this country first and not himself,” Reynolds says in footage from a recent rally. “Ron DeSantis is the person that we need leading this country. He is probably the most effective leader that I know.”

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The ad continues with DeSantis himself telling viewers, “I will fight for you, I will win for you, and I will lead America’s revival.”

Part of the campaign’s $2 million ad reservation, which is running from mid-November until the Iowa Republican caucuses on Jan. 15, the television spot is only DeSantis’s second ad of the cycle.

The campaign unexpectedly debuted its first ad earlier this month, a $320,000 purchase, which it credited to a “strong fundraising pace.” The 30-second ad was an addition to the $2 million reservation, which would begin later in the month.

DeSantis’s team announced in October that it would be moving one-third of its staff to Iowa to focus on the first-in-the-nation caucus state in a strategic shift. According to the campaign, its Des Moines, Iowa, campaign headquarters will open this week, with two months until caucuses.

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Reynolds endorsed DeSantis during an early November event, drawing the renewed ire of former President Donald Trump, who said the move would ruin her political career. It’s unclear how large of an effect Reynolds’s endorsement will have, if any. However, she is expected to put her political might and resources behind the Florida governor and join him on the campaign trail. The ad featuring Reynolds is the first signal of her role in his Iowa-centered campaign strategy.

As time until the Iowa Republican caucuses dwindles, several events will provide the Florida governor a chance to stand out. On Nov. 30, DeSantis will take on Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) in a debate on Fox News. After that, he is expected to take part in the fourth Republican National Committee debate in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Dec. 6. Various other campaign stops and group events will also provide a platform for DeSantis to make his case to Iowans and the public.