U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., and Miami-Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo, who won the Republican primary to challenge the freshman congressman earlier this week, are gearing up for what is expected to be one of the most competitive congressional contests in the nation. On Friday, both campaigns turned to leading members of Congress to give them a fundraising boost. Both campaigns also looked to tie their opponents to their partys leader in the U.S. House.
On Friday, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), sent out a fundraising email on Curbelos behalf, attempting to link Garcia with U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Walden warned Republicans that Democrats planned to support Garcia with their checkbooks and called for Republicans to open their wallets for Curbelo.
Hes our candidate to beat Joe Garcia and Nancy Pelosi, but the Democrats have already reserved more than $2 million in advertising against him, Walden wrote. His real race has just started.
Like most political observers, Walden predicted the congressional race would be close come November.
Carlos knows what it takes to lead and will fight for the best for South Florida -- but hes in a tight race, Walden wrote.
But Garcia got help of his own on Friday from a leading Democrat at the national and state levels: U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Wasserman Schultz sent out a fundraising email on Garcias behalf in which she tried to link Curbelo to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
It may be difficult to hear this, but heres the honest truth, Wasserman Schultz wrote on Garcias behalf. Speaker Boehner has made it his mission his priority to defeat Joe Garcia.
Like Walden, Wasserman Schultz predicted a close contest in November.
Joe Garcia is fighting in one of the toughest races in the entire country and its imperative that weve got his back, Wasserman Schultz insisted. Joe Garcias re-election is critical to our fight against Boehners right-wing agenda.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
