U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., fired back after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) launched its latest salvo in what is expected to be one of the most competitive 2016 races in the nation.
Curbelo is looking to rally Republicans behind his bid, with a message to supporters on Monday linking his Democratic opponent, Annette Taddeo, to U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
“Nancy Pelosi’s campaign arm just launched another series of attack ads against me,” Curbelo wrote. “It’s clear Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat donors will stop at nothing to install another rubber stamp in South Florida for her radical agenda.”
Facing a major foe in former Miami Dade Democratic Party Chairwoman Taddeo in a swing district, Curbelo drew fire from the DCCC earlier in November for education cuts and supporting new U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc.
Through a digital campaign, the DCCC targeted Curbelo in Spanish-language ads for voting to cut Head Start funds and trying to tie him to Ryan.
“Congressman Curbelo’s vote to cut education programs hurts Florida’s families, whether it's parents looking to enroll their student in early education programs, or college students relying on Pell Grants to pay their way through school,” said Jermaine House, a spokesman for the DCCC, when the ads were launched. “This week, voters should remember that Congressman Curbelo and House Republicans want to cut education funding for students of all ages.”
Taddeo’s team also pounded the drums in recent days to get her supporters behind her. Taddeo’s team sent out a Sunday email insisting “Annette is in one of the most competitive races in the country" and claiming Curbelo “has rasied over $1,000,000 from people like the Koch brothers".
The Taddeo camp also noted Curbelo supported Ryan to be House speaker and insisted the national GOP will double down on its support of the Florida congressman.
“Rep. Carlos Curbelo was quick to support Paul Ryan for speaker of the House -- and you can bet he and his national Republican campaign arm will repay the favor," Taddeo’s campaign wrote supporters.
While the South Florida district is expected to be impacted as the state judicial branch handles congressional redistricting, this has been a swing district in recent years with Republicans winning in 2010, Democrats flipping it in 2012 and the GOP taking it back last year.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
