With three weeks to go until the election, anda poll released Monday showing the gubernatorial contestants neck and neck, both Democratic candidate Alex Sink and Republican rival Rick Scott went on the warpath, unleashing new attacks on each other.
Sinks campaign launched a two-minute attack ad on Scott that will run on Tampa Bay television starting Wednesday. The Sink team unveiled the ad Monday. It zaps the Republican for his record in the private sector, focusing on allegations of fraud.
The people of Florida deserve to be told the truth about Rick Scotts record of fraud, said Kyra Jennings, a spokeswoman for Sink. While a two-minute ad is unprecedented in Florida elections, 30 seconds just wasnt enough time to tell his whole story.
Its time Floridians learn about his past and realize that his unethical background makes him wholly unfit to hold our states highest office, she said.
The Scott campaign fired back that the ad is politics-as-usual and an attempt by the Sink camp to provide a distraction from a host of other issues, ranging from trailing in the polls, to President Barack Obama stumping in South Florida Monday, to questions raised about Sink allowing felons to sell insurance.
Alex Sink paved the way for convicted felons to sell insurance to Floridians and now she is desperate to avoid answering questions about her role in this scandal, said Brian Burgess, a spokesman for Scott. Voters are rightly outraged by this practice and Sink must answer questions. How many convicted criminals have received licenses during Alex Sinks term as CFO? Why did her office grant waivers to multiple individuals convicted of crimes involving dishonesty? And when will she release all files pertaining to convicted criminals who have received licenses on her watch? Rather than rehashing old attacks voters rejected in the primary, Sink needs to level with Floridians about her offices role in allowing convicted felons to sell insurance in the state.
The Scott team unveiled a website Monday that attacks Sinks record at her current CFO post, as well as when she worked in the private sector.
A poll released Monday by Rasmussen Reports shows whats at stake as Scott and Sink continue to launch broadsides at each other. The Rasmussen poll reveals that the race is close -- with Scott ahead of Sink, but the difference between them falling within the margin of error.
The poll has Scott at 50 percent and Sink at 47 percent.
This is the first poll that has the Republican reaching the 50 percent mark. A poll released last week showed Scott leading by 5 points.
The Rasmussen poll of 750 likely voters was taken Oct. 7. It has a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
