Anti-Trump push

Conservative group poised to launch anti-Trump push in Florida

By Alex Isenstadt

While votes were still being counted on Super Tuesday, a prominent conservative group wasted no time laying the groundwork to defeat Donald Trump in a critical state: Florida.

American Future Fund, an Iowa-based organization overseen by Republican strategist Nick Ryan, will launch a $1.75 million TV buy against Trump in the state, which holds its primary on March 15. Ryan confirmed the move in an email.

The group is one of several looking to take on Trump in Florida, a delegate-rich state where polls show the mogul leading home state senator Marco Rubio. Our Principles PAC, an anti-Trump super PAC operated by former Mitt Romney aide Katie Packer, is also considering an offensive against the billionaire.

American Future Fund has hammered Trump on the airwaves in recent days, airing commercials on Trump University in Super Tuesday-voting states.

Rubio suffered a series of defeats on Tuesday, and a defeat in Florida would be devastating. The senator is expected to spend much of the next two weeks campaigning there. He has tapped Clint Reed, a former Republican National Committee political director who played key roles in his Iowa and South Carolina campaigns, to help spearhead his Florida effort.