Republican Michael Whatley, 58, trails Democrat Roy Cooper, 69, by an average of 9 points in North Carolina, says the RealClearPolitics polling average—apparently enough for Whatley’s campaign to pause its TV ads, a campaign source told the Raleigh News & Observer. 

The move, the source said, indicated the campaign was readjusting to reach its target audience, though many have interpreted the move as Republicans waving the white flag in a state Trump won in all three of his presidential elections.

“We are confident we have the resources to target our late-breaking supporters and win on Election Day,” the source insisted to the paper.