A group critical of Donald Trump has pulled the plug on a series of advertisements intended to cast doubt on his fitness for office in light of his legal challenges, according to a report by Politico. The decision came after the ads failed to sway Republican voters.
The political action committee, Win It Back PAC, initiated the test run of the adverts in late September with the intention of persuading Republican constituents that Trump was not the ideal leader for the GOP’s presidential ticket in 2024.
This PAC undertook a comprehensive poll, surveying 3,075 GOP voters across the United States to assess the impact of each commercial on Trump’s standing amidst a crowded primary field and also against a potential one-on-one race with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Politico disclosed that the campaign did not produce the desired results. Astonishingly, three out of the four ads actually increased support for Trump.
In a previous report by The New York Times, it was noted that David McIntosh of Win It Back PAC informed benefactors that a thorough screening of over 40 commercials designed to discredit Trump’s right-wing stance on certain policies had been unsuccessful.
A memo reviewed by Politico indicated, “None of the ads tested were successful in detracting from Trump’s support in the primary or in a direct matchup with DeSantis, when compared to a baseline that was highly favorable to Trump.”
Currently a dominant figure in the Republican presidential nomination race, Trump is simultaneously contending with four criminal cases and a civil fraud lawsuit.
One of the advertisements from Win It Back argued that the indictments against Trump had taken a toll on him and weakened his electoral prospects. Another advertisement suggested that the trials posed “excessive liability,” cautioning that Democrats would exploit these issues to diminish Trump’s standing.
A different ad posited that Trump’s potential conviction could make it a smooth path for President Joe Biden’s reelection.
There was also an advertisement that portrayed a voter expressing concern over Trump’s legal entanglements.
Notwithstanding the advertisements’ narrative, several surveyed voters stood by the former president.
One survey participant expressed discontent with the messaging, feeling that Trump was not being treated impartially due to his identity.
Another voiced frustration over the “utterly dishonest and corrupt individuals attempting to persecute Trump, which is patently unjust.”
It appears a significant number of GOP voters regard Trump as a target of overreach by the Justice Department under the Biden administration.
Trump’s legal troubles involve allegations of trying to overturn the presidential election results in 2020, specific allegations in the state of Georgia, accusations of mishandling confidential documents, and purported payoffs to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to maintain silence.
The civil trial in New York State charges Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization with fraudulent activities.
