Pro-Bachmann group defects to Romney

An outside group that had promised to back Michele Bachmann is instead airing ads on behalf of Mitt Romney.

The group, Citizens for a Working America, is spending nearly $500,000 on an ad promoting Romney in Iowa, according to FEC documents. News app The Daily first reported the unusual shift.

The move may suggest the group’s restructured leadership has lost faith in Bachmann’s ability to win in the state.

{mosads}The group originally counted longtime Bachmann adviser Ed Brookover and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell as active board members. But Blackwell endorsed Rick Perry in October and Brookover told The Hill that he left the group a while back.

“They weren’t raising any money for the Michele effort,” he said. “I have no idea why [they are spending for Romney]. I’m still supporting Michele.”

Brookover said he thought Norman Cummings, Blackwell’s former campaign manager, was still running the group.