Latest governor ads add little positive
The latest TV ads in the Florida governor’s campaign are slashing attacks from one side against the other’s candidate, with each side attempting to exploit what it sees as potential vulnerabilities in the opposition.
Democrat Andrew Gillum is attacking Republican Ron DeSantis, charging he has a record of “taking health care away from Floridians.”
The Republican Governors Association, the national group that raises money to elect its party’s gubernatorial candidates is attacking Gillum, claiming he supports “and has close ties to a radical group called the Dream Defenders.”
There’s nothing positive in the latest spots, which are all aimed at creating doubts in voters’ minds. Polling shows the vast majority of Florida voters have their minds made up. Each side wants to capture undecided voters and, just as important, to sour voters who might be thinking of voting for the other candidate.
The two spots released Tuesday are aimed at doing just that.
‘Everybody’
The Gillum campaign released a spot titled “Everybody.”
It attacks DeSantis for a position he took while a member of Congress. Gillum said DeSantis wanted to roll back health insurance protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
DeSantis served nearly three terms in Congress representing northeast Florida. He resigned in early September, four months before the end of his term, to spend full time running for governor.
It’s part of an effort by
Democrats across the country to use health care as a political issue against Republicans in the midterm elections. Excerpts:
“He’d let insurance companies deny them coverage.
“And when he was asked what cancer patients should do without health insurance, DeSantis said ‘show up to the emergency room.’ How can DeSantis lead Florida when he leaves Floridians behind?”
The final scene proclaims, “Ron DeSantis leaves Florida behind.”
‘Too Radical’
The RGA released a called “Too Radical.”
It highlights what it a spokesman for the Republicans called Gillum’s “unwavering support for the radical Dream Defenders.”
Dream Defenders organizes efforts to end police brutality against people of color and to end the schoolto-prison pipeline. Excerpts:
“These radicals argue for quote ‘a border-free tomorrow’ spot … that ‘police and prisons have no place in justice.’
“Gillum’s backers say the United States is ‘the biggest bully in the history of the planet.’
“Their co-founder says Andrew Gillum is ‘part of the movement’ and if he’s governor they will ‘move a radical platform.’”
The final scene proclaims: “Andrew Gillum. Too radical.”
‘Way of Life’
Later on Tuesday, the Republican Party of Florida, issued a positive ad, called “Way of Life.”
It portrays DeSantis as a champion of the environment who, as governor, would clean up waterways, restore the Everglades, fight red tide and complete the reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee.
It’s the same strategy the Republican side used 10 days ago. The Republican Governors Association issues an attack ad against Gillum and the state Republican Party issues an ad playing up DeSantis.