A PAC supporting Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to spend $3.3 million during the next six months to boost the politician's national profile, Financial Times reported.
The move by Ready for Ron, a political action committee not connected officially to DeSantis, bolsters expectations that the governor will run for president in 2024.
The PAC is expected to file a report Thursday with the Federal Elections Commission disclosing the expected expenditures, Financial Times reported.
So far, former President Donald Trump is the only Republican to have kicked off a campaign for the party's next presidential nomination.
Financial Times reported that Ready for Ron's spending will include $2.3 million in national TV ads at a rate of $100,000 per week through June, and $1 million in independent spending on phone, mail, and digital promotion.
Ready for Ron, with GOP veteran Ed Rollins as chief political strategist, was set up in May last year.
Dan Backer, a lawyer and counsel to Ready for Ron, said the ad spending's aim was to create "the backbone of a real ground game" for DeSantis and "convince DeSantis that he has the grassroots support to run and win in a general election," Financial Times reported.
Backer added that the PAC wanted to "bring in a whole host of people who aren't part of the current [DeSantis] universe."
Specifically, that means Republicans not part of Trump's "Make America Great Again" base that has dominated GOP campaigns in recent years.
DeSantis, who was reelected by nearly 20 points in November, has sidestepped questions concerning a presidential run.
Still, recent national polls show him as Trump's top challenger if he decides to enter the race.
A Morning Consult survey released Wednesday showed Trump with a 17-point lead on DeSantis in a hypothetical GOP field. However, a Club for Growth poll on Tuesday showed that DeSantis fared better than Trump against President Joe Biden.
Backer told Financial Times that he expected DeSantis to launch a presidential candidacy following the end of the Florida legislative session, and added that the announcement likely would occur after Labor Day.
The attorney said that outside spending should help "offset any competitive advantage that any other campaigns may or may not have" between now and then, Financial Times reported.
Politico reported on Wednesday that a Michigan senior state lawmaker flew to Florida to hand deliver a letter to DeSantis encouraging him to run.