DeSantis-aligned PAC staffs up, brings on Ted Cruz’s campaign manager

A super PAC closely aligned with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is making a major expansion, bringing on a top Republican strategist and establishing its headquarters in Atlanta.

It is a move that comes as the Florida governor takes steps toward launching a widely-expected presidential run.

Jeff Roe, who previously ran Sen. Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign, has signed on to be an adviser to the super PAC, Never Back Down, according to an operative with direct knowledge of the move.

Never Back Down is being spearheaded by executive director Chris Jankowski, another seasoned Republican operative. Ken Cuccinelli, a former top Homeland Security official to Donald Trump, is serving as chair of the super PAC. Over the last several weeks, Cuccinelli has visited four key early GOP primary states.

Whether Never Back Down is ultimately blessed by DeSantis is not yet clear, though top Republicans expect it will play a major role bolstering the governor should he get into the race.

While the super PAC is ramping up operations, so too is DeSantis himself. The governor is expected to hit the road again in late March and early April after having done an extensive swing for his book tour. Among the stops he will make will be for speaking engagements in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire and the D.C. area.

The stops will bring him before some influential conservative audiences. Among them, DeSantis is slated to speak at the convocation at Liberty University on April 14.