Ryan Nicol
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, the Democratic candidate in Florida’s 26th Congressional District, is out with a new ad on the state’s water problems. The ad’s release comes on the same day as multiple beaches were closed across South Florida in light of a red tide outbreak.
Mucarsel-Powell is attempting to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo. Her new ad, titled “We Deserve Clean Water,” puts the blame on Republicans for not doing enough to protect Florida’s environment.
The ad is devoid of audible narration, instead relying on the visual of Mucarsel-Powell scuba diving, displaying signs underwater to call for “real action” on the environment.
“Our water, our reef, our environment are in danger,” reads the text on the screen amid numerous underwater shots.
“Republicans have done nothing.”
That’s when Mucarsel-Powell appears in full scuba gear, holding signs which say, in succession, “I’m Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. I’m running for Congress. I will take real action.”
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced Thursday it was offering $3 million in grants to South Florida counties dealing with the red tide outbreak.
Recent polls from Democratically-aligned groups have shown Mucarsel-Powell slightly ahead of Curbelo in the race. Election analysts at FiveThirtyEight and the Cook Political Report now see the contest as a tossup, though Larry Sabato and Inside Elections both have Curbelo as a small favorite.
