Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters Republicans not immune to the malady that hobbled Democrats The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election MORE (I-Vt.) placed the first television ad buy of his 2020 presidential campaign on Tuesday, a seven-figure spot in Iowa that casts the senator as a “fighter” capable of taking on President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE.

The campaign is dropping $1.3 million to air the ad in the Hawkeye State over the next two weeks, Sanders’s campaign said. Two versions of the ad — a 30-second and 60-second version — will hit the airwaves on Thursday.

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“Whether it was Wall Street, the drug companies or other powerful special interests, Bernie has taken them on for us,” a narrator says in the ad, before turning the attention to President Trump.

“Now, our country is at a turning point,” it continues. “A dangerous demagogue tearing our nation apart, hard-working people betrayed by Trump, a health care system that makes enormous profits for drug and insurance companies, and a planet on the brink of a climate disaster. In this moment, we need a fighter. Bernie Sanders.”

The ad rollout in the crucial first caucus state came as Sanders’s campaign announced a staggering $25.3 million fundraising haul for the third quarter of the year, the most announced by any candidate in the Democratic primary contest so far. He also transferred an additional $2.6 million from other campaign accounts.

Only two other candidates, Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerThe movement to reform animal agriculture has reached a tipping point Watchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing MORE and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE, have publicly announced their third-quarter fundraising totals. Booker’s campaign said he raised more than $6 million over the past three months, while Buttigieg raked in $19.1 million in the same time frame.

Sanders’s fundraising announcement and the subsequent ad rollout suggest that he’s looking to quash the narrative that his campaign is in decline.

Several recent polls have shown his support slipping nationally and in critical early primary and caucus states. Meanwhile, campaign shake-ups in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to vote in the presidential nominating contest, have fueled speculation of internal turmoil.

Indeed, Sanders’s foray into paid television advertising is coming earlier this cycle than it did during his first presidential bid, when he waited until November 2015 to go on the air. But unlike that cycle, when he cast himself as a progressive foil to the eventual Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida Hillicon Valley: Productivity, fatigue, cybersecurity emerge as top concerns amid pandemic | Facebook critics launch alternative oversight board | Google to temporarily bar election ads after polls close Trump pledges to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, designate KKK a terrorist group in pitch to Black voters MORE, Sanders now faces several challenges, including a chief ideological rival in the form of Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package Warren, Khanna request IG investigation into Pentagon's use of coronavirus funds MORE (D-Mass.).

The upcoming TV ad campaign in Iowa largely tacks with the themes of economic and social inequality that have been ubiquitous in Sanders’s campaign; it references his efforts to take on the financial services industry and pharmaceutical giants.

But it opens with a quote from Sanders, recalling how “living in a family that struggled economically powerfully influenced my life and my values.” The Vermont senator has addressed his upbringing and family life infrequently on the campaign trail, despite urgings by some allies, who have argued that he needs to do more to personalize his candidacy.