Democrats aren't wasting any time getting back in the game. Republicans gave them such a shellacking at the polls in November that they're looking to rebound big in 2012 -- starting as early as right now and targeting 19 Republican U.S. House incumbents they believe are vulnerable, including two in Florida.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced Monday that it will be launching radio ads aimed at the 19 incumbents who include two freshmen Republicans from the Sunshine State. The DCCC promised to run radio ads, launch phone calls and direct e-mail blasts against Florida Republicans Allen West and David Rivera.
While West defeated Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Klein by almost 9 percent in November, Democrats point to the fact that the Republican outraised his opponent by $3 million and rode a Republican tidal wave. They insist that 2012 will be like the last presidential election in 2008 -- when Klein beat West by 10 percent in the polls.
The radio ad the DCCC is running hits West, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, on economic and fiscal issues.
Did you know Congressman Allen West has a plan to cut education and research by 40 percent that will cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and make America less competitive? states the ad. Tell West to choose jobs.
While the DCCC hammered West on issues, it's looking to capitalize on recent reports that Rivera, who represents parts of Collier, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties, is under examination for committing ethical violations.
Did you know Congressman David Rivera is under criminal investigation for receiving secret payments from his mothers company? says the narrator in the DCCC ad. Tell Rivera to come clean so he can finally get to work for us.
Rivera, who served four terms in the state House in Tallahassee, replaced fellow Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart who chose to run for the congressional seat his brother Lincoln was vacating. While Democrats had hopes of picking up the seat, running former Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Joe Garcia who had given Diaz-Balart a closer fight than anticipated back in 2008, Rivera defeated the Democrat to hold the seat for the Republicans.
Republicans promptly returned fire at the DCCC ads.
If the Democrats want to spend their resources a year and 10 months out from the election to target voters in districts that havent even been drawn yet, that's fine by us, said a spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) on Monday. Its a questionable use of money at best, and indicative of the Democrats desperation following a massive failure on policy and political fronts.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
