With less than six week to go and all the polls showing a close contest, Floridas gubernatorial candidates are hitting the airwaves with a flurry of television ads.
The Florida Democratic Party launched a new TV ad on Tuesday, hitting Gov. Rick Scotts record at HCA/Columbia for Medicare fraud when he led that company.
Former Gov. Charlie Crist showcased the ad as he looks to topple Scott in November. Rick Scott led a company that committed massive Medicare fraud, Crist insisted on Tuesday.
But Scotts team quickly fired back on Tuesday. The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) looked to tie Crist to President Barack Obamas federal health-care law in a TV ad unveiled on Tuesday night.
Charlie Crist famously said that Obamacares 'been great!' but its clear that Obamacare isnt great for Florida, said RPOF Chairwoman Leslie Dougher on Tuesday night. Obamacare is forcing Floridians to pay more for their health care and it's making it harder for Florida small businesses to create jobs. Because of Obamacare, patients are losing their doctors and losing their health care plans, even though President Obama promised they wouldnt. Charlie Crists love of Obamacare shows that hell use the Obama playbook of bigger government, higher taxes and skyrocketing debt if he's elected again -- a playbook Floridians can't afford.
Crist doubled down on his support of Obamas health-care law on Wednesday, pointing to an editorial from the Tampa Bay Times which claimed it was working.
The numbers prove it, from the Tampa Bay Times: health care reform is working -- and if Rick Scott had expanded Medicaid, it'd be helping even more people, Crist insisted on Wednesday. I'll do whatever it takes to get health care to Floridians that need it.
With polls showing him as a factor in the race, Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Adrian Wyllie is also taking to the airwaves. Wyllie announced on Wednesday he will launch his first TV ad this week, running it on stations in Tampa Bay.
"You have been inundated with attack ads about Rick Scott and Charlie Crist, Wyllie says in the ad. Sadly, they are mostly true. The good news is, you have a third choice. I'm Adrian Wyllie, Libertarian candidate for governor of Florida. I am in this race because I'm like you -- I'm fed up with the politicians using money and power to benefit themselves while making our lives more difficult. I want you and your family to enjoy freedom and prosperity. Don't let them scare you into voting for more of the same. This time take a stand."
The Wyllie campaign said it plans to run more ads in October.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
