Freshman U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., looked to rally his supporters on Wednesday, urging them to contribute to his campaign. If the tea party sees even a hint of weakness, we can expect 13 weeks of even more intense attacks, Garcia emailed his backers on Wednesday.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) continues to help Garcia out, launching attacks against Miami-Dade County School Board member Carlos Curbelo, the favorite to win the Republican nomination in the Aug. 26 primary. This week, the DCCC jabbed Curbelo on education, looking to link him to Gov. Rick Scott.
Just like the Rick Scott Republican that he is, Carlos Curbelo isnt telling the truth about his record of slashing support for South Floridas schools, teachers and children, said David Bergstein, a spokesman for the DCCC, on Monday. When Curbelo wasnt serving as the cheerleader for Scotts draconian cuts to Floridas schools, Curbelo was supporting cuts to hundreds of education jobs himself all while funneling millions of tax dollars to his corporate campaign contributors. Its just more proof that Curbelo is exactly the type of Rick Scott-style politician who South Florida families cant trust in Congress.
But Curbelo showed no hesitation at punching away at Garcia on Wednesday, despite facing a Republican primary later this month.
Voter fraud. Thats what Joe Garcias campaign was guilty of last election, Curbelo noted on Wednesday. Hes also the same guy who was caught saying communism works. And on top of that, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and their super-PACs are spending millions of dollars to protect Joe Garcia.
Curbelo looked to make political hay out of Garcias communism works" gaffe he made back in May.
We cant have someone who thinks communism works representing South Florida in Congress, Curbelo insisted. Thats why Im running for our district to preserve our freedom and democracy.
Curbelo faces Cutler Bay Mayor Ed MacDougall, former Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Joe Martinez and attorney Lorenzo Palomares-Starbuck in the Aug. 26 primary. Much of the Republican leadership -- former Gov. Jeb Bush, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., and former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.-- has endorsed Curbelo.
Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera, R-Fla., who Garcia beat back in 2012, is on the ballot but he withdrew from the race to run for a Florida House seat in 2016.
Despite facing a criminal investigation over accusations of campaign finance violations and ending his congressional bid, the Miami Herald reported this week that Rivera has been running robocalls in the district, encouraging Republicans to vote for him in the primary.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
