Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
An outside group is attacking Kathleen Passidomo over her conservative credentials.
The Tallahassee-based political committee, called “Conservatives,” has released a series of advertisements calling Passidomo a liberal. The ads, and a companion website, focus on two issues — the Second Amendment and abortion.
“Kathleen Passidomo, just another politician who says she’s a conservative but votes like a liberal,” an announcer says in a 30-second spot called “Wrong.”
The ad has been in heavy rotation in Southwest Florida, where Passidomo faces Rep. Matt Hudson in Senate District 28. The political committee is supporting Hudson.
“Matt Hudson and I have pretty much the same voting record. He’s obviously running scared because he has nothing to offer. He’s attacking me, and that’s the whole thing,” she said. “Obviously, he and I are as conservative as you can get in the Legislature.”
The group recently launched a website, where it calls her “Liberal Kathleen Passidomo, masquerading as a conservative.”
“She says she’s a conservative, but what do the facts say,” the website reads. “Time and time again, Passidomo has sided with Democrats, promoting liberal positions and big government giveaways.”
Records show political committee has raised $351,682 since March 2016. All but $182 of that money came from “Sun Coast Patriots,” a Fort Myers-based political committee.
“Making the Right Call for Florida,” Hudson’s political committee, gave “Sun Coast Patriots” $388,000 between July 12 and Aug. 4.
While the first spot doesn’t mention Hudson, a second advertisement posted on the website touts Hudson’s record, calling him a “a real conservative who votes like one.”
Passidomo said the attacks were baseless, and said advertisements distort the facts around the votes.
The two are locked into a tight battle to replace Sen. Garrett Richter in the Florida Senate. The winner of the Aug. 30 primary will essentially win the election, facing only write-in candidates come November.
