Police Group Releases Ad Attacking Rick Scott's Prisons Plan

The Florida Police Benevolent Association, which has endorsed Democrat Alex Sink in the governor's race, released an ad Wednesday attacking her opponent, Republican Rick Scott.

The 30-second ad claims Scott's plan would cut the budget for prisons in half, forcing some to close, letting "murderers, rapists, sex offenders, armed robbers, drug dealers," out early. It depicts Rick Scott letting out thankful prisoners.

"This reckless proposal will force Florida to close prisons and to release tens of thousands of felons back into our community. Either Rick Scott doesn't understand the criminal justice system or he is playing politics with people's lives," Florida PBA President John Rivera said.

Most of the prisoners depicted in the ad are African-American, evoking echoes of George Bush's infamous Willie Horton ad during the 1988 presidential campaign, characterized by critics as a wantonly racist ad.