With two weeks to go in the Florida gubernatorial contest, the leading candidates have spent recent days cultivating Hispanic voters across the Sunshine State.
Even as Floridas growing Puerto Rican population and their role in state politics garnered national notice on Monday in an article from Yahoo, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) launched a new TV ad trying to woo some of these voters for Gov. Rick Scott.
Former Gov. Luis Fortu, R-Puerto Rico, and former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferrappeared in a new Spanish language TV ad for Scott. Ferrwas born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and his uncle Luis Ferrserved as governor of that commonwealth from 1969-1973. The RPOF unveiled the new ad on Monday.
Hes a Republican," Ferrsays in the ad via a translation provided by the RPOF.
And hes a Democrat, Fortu replies.
Agreeing on anything isnt easy, Ferrsays.
But here's why we agree that Governor Rick Scott deserves your vote," Fortu says.
Scotts working on improving our states transportation and that creates jobs," Ferrnotes.
On education, Scott secured historic funding, pay raises for teachers and lowered tuition that
Charlie Crist increased," Fortu says.
After running for the Democratic nomination in the 2010 U.S. Senate contest, Ferrbacked Scott in that years gubernatorial nomination. Ferrendorsed former Florida Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich over Crist in the primary earlier this year.
For his part, as early voting began, Scott spent part of Monday campaigning in Miami alongside two prominent Hispanic Republicans: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera.
But the Democrats held an early voting event in South Dade on Monday featuring Democratic challenger former Gov. Charlie Crists running mate and a congressman. Annette Taddeo, who led Miami-Dade Democrats before being named Crists running mate, and U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., voted and tried to rally their supporters in Miami-Dade.
Voting plays a critical role in helping South Florida succeed, and Im excited to join Annette as we walk to the polls to mark the first day of early voting, said Garcia on Monday. If you are a resident in this community, and you want to protect Medicare and Social Security, if you dont want flood insurance rates to skyrocket, or if you believe in a minimum wage at $10.10, its important that you vote.
Taddeo also campaigned over the weekend with U.S. Rep. Joaqu Castro, D-Texas, in Kissimee, where the Hispanic population continues to grow quickly.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
