Both sides are ratcheting up the attacks in the final days of the Florida gubernatorial race.
With barely a week to go in a close race against former Gov. Charlie Crist, Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his plan for Floridas future on Monday. Scotts plan calls for $1 billion in tax cuts, $1 billion in additional port investments, adding $25 billion to Floridas highways and roads, keeping college tuition where it is and increasing per-pupil spending.
I get to travel the state every day and talk to people all over Florida about what they want they want to move our state forward, Scott said on Monday. The Florida 2020 plan is just that a clear vision to move Florida forward, to continue building our state to be the best place in the country to find a great job, start a family, and give our kids a world-class education.
Scott continued campaigning with Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., the chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), on Monday, working the Atlantic coast and encouraging early voting.
While Scott focused on unveiling his vision for Floridas future, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) released an ad on Monday attacking Crist for accepting campaign cash from strip club owners. Crist is running neck and neck in the polls with Scott.
Three weeks ago I called on Charlie Crist to return the donations he received from strip club owners who have abused and exploited women, and whose industry promotes sex trafficking, which destroys the lives of thousands of women in Florida, Leslie Dougher, the chairwoman of the RPOF, said on Monday. Charlie Crist tried to hide his dirty strip club cash, and only when pushed did he sheepishly admit that hes refusing to return it. Crist is all talk and no action and his empty rhetoric on womens issues is insulting but not surprising. If Charlie Crist had any shred of decency left, he would immediately return the dirty strip club cash.
Crist supporters went on the attack as well on Monday with NextGen Climate Florida, a super-PAC funded by California billionaire Tom Steyer, announcing they were placing hundreds of signs in key locations calling on Gov. Scott to return the $1.2 million he has received in campaign contributions from Duke Energy -- all while Duke gouges taxpayers out of billions." NextGen Climate Florida has been spending heavily against Scott on global warming and other environmental issues despite Steyer having made his fortune, in part, by investing in coal.
For his part, Crist tried to keep his supporters fired up even as he responded to reports that Scott was investing $22 million from his personal wealth to fund the campaign. Last week, Scott told the media that Steyers attacks forced him to rely on his own money. On Monday, Crist insisted Scotts new cash was scary but not decisive and maintained he had a true broad grassroots base of support that knows how to win by getting people to the polls one door-knock and phone call at a time even though Democrats had not won a gubernatorial election since 1994.
Rick Scott has spent $61 million to tie this race, Crist emailed supporters on Monday. And he thinks another $20 million from his own pockets will take him over the top. His millions will absolutely not drown out the voice of the people. He will not be allowed to buy himself another election.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
