The state's GOP press machine wasted no time Thursday in spreading the word, churning out a news release with snarky quotations and a headline sure to raise some eyebrows.
"Sink Hires Pro-Abortion Group Staffer as Deputy Campaign Manager," read the headline from the Republican Party of Florida.
It's true. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who announced some major shakeups Thursday in her campaign for governor, has hired Shellie Levin, a strategist for Emily's List. That organization boasts about its commitment to helping pro-choice, female Democrats win elections.
So what does this say about Sink's campaign? Is she taking a drastic swing left?
Maybe, but Sink already had Emily's List connections before bringing Levin on board.
The Emily's List Web site lists Sink near the very top of its "featured candidates" group, and a profile of her on the site brags about her status as the only pro-choice member of the Florida Cabinet. The profile also notes that in 2003, Sink was honored by a state Planned Parenthood chapter with a Choice Award "for her outspoken support for womens rights and reproductive freedom."
In the news release Ronnie Whitaker, executive director of RPOF, sneered at Sink's association with Emily's List as well as her new hire.
You would think that being 15 points down in the polls would cause a liberal candidate to tread more toward the center, but apparently Sink is using the opportunity to further highlight her support from one of the most far left, liberal organizations in the country, Whitaker said in the release.
Sink's campaign spokeswoman Kyra Jennings responded to questions about Levin with a one-paragraph statement about the campaign's excitement over the new hire.
Levin "will help the campaign continue to reach out to Floridians up and down the state to share Alexs vision for the future of Florida," Jennings said in the statement.
Contact Lyndsey Lewis at llewis@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
