The push comes at a trying moment for the president. Trump’s political advisers last week briefed him on internal polling showing him trailing Biden in battleground states, prompting the president to scold his campaign manager, Brad Parscale. The campaign’s polling also showed that an initial surge in support for Trump over his handling of the crisis has evaporated.
The first flight of ads will depict Trump as showing leadership in the face of opposition from Democrats and the media, people familiar with them said. The spots will also highlight Trump’s determination to restart the devastated economy.
The offensive marks a new and more urgent stage in the campaign. Concerned about appearing overly political in the middle of a public health crisis, the reelection effort had resisted going on the air during the coronavirus. The change of course comes amid growing worry among top Republicans about the president’s political prospects this fall.
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