Trailing in the polls behind Charlie Crist, Gov. Rick Scott released the first television ad of the 2014 gubernatorial campaign on Tuesday.
The ad features Scott talking about his experiences growing up in poverty and how it drives him to focus on Floridas economy and creating jobs.
Gov. Rick Scott's tireless and singular focus on improving lives for Florida's families, by creating jobs and investing in education, comes directly from his life experiences, said Florida Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, Scotts campaign chair. Rick's story speaks to why no one works harder than he does to make Florida the best in the country for families and job creators."
Thrasher talked to the media and said it was a "significant buy," costing $2.2 million and running across the state and online.
The ad continues to show his heart and his personal passion for creating jobs in the state of Florida, Thrasher told the media.
Asked if Florida voters did not know Scott after four years on the political stage, Thrasher said that was a possibility and one of the reasons for the newcommercial. This is an opportunity to reintroduce him to some people, Thrasher said.
Thrasher looked to defend Scott from Democratic jabs and went on the attack against Crist. During Thrashers time as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) in 2010, Crist left the GOP to continue his bid for the U.S. Senate to run with no party affiliation. Crist joined the Democrats at the end of 2012.
Charlie Crist is a professional politician, Thrasher said. Hes a professional mudslinger.
Noting that Crist worked for prominent trial lawyer John Morgan, Thrasher said the Democrats career in the private sector is more problematic than Scotts. During Scotts tenure in charge of Columbia/HCA, that company paid a record high fine to the federal government for Medicare fraud.
The Florida Democratic Party quickly weighed in on the new ad as spokesman Joshua Karp returned fire on Scott.
"Rick Scott wants Floridians to think hes on their side, when in fact he has spent his whole career rigging the system so that only he and his special-interest friends will profit, said Karp. Rick Scotts hypocrisy is on full display and no amount of campaign cash can change that. Rick Scotts priority is where its always been -- helping the wealthy special interests and his campaign donors, not Floridas middle-class families."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
