Phil Ammann
A mysterious and costly flyer has begun hitting mailboxes of Democratic voters in Florida’s 6th Congressional District.
That, in itself, is not unusual in the days before Tuesday’s primary; what is notable is who paid for it — the Republican Party of Florida.
Featured prominently in the glossy, high-quality mail piece — sent to households in Volusia and Flagler counties — are President Barack Obama and Dwayne Taylor, the four-term state House Democrat.
“When it comes to policy, there isn’t a dime’s worth of difference between liberal Democrats like Barack Obama and Dwayne Taylor,” the flyer says.
RPOF chair Blaise Ingoglia tells the Daytona Beach News-Journal the mail piece was not intended for only Democratic voters, but a wide swath of the electorate in CD 6.
Since Taylor was the main focus — and not Democratic opponents Jay McGovern, Bill McCullough and George Pappas — Republican operatives suggest Taylor will be the most likely winner Tuesday.
Other Democrats, such as Volusia party chair Leslie Pearce, were not amused. She believes the flyer was meant to tip the scales to favor Taylor.
“I dropped it in the trash I was so disgusted,” Pearce told the News-Journal. “We’ve got four guys running. We need to let the voters decide.”
For his part, Taylor, a former Daytona Beach City Commissioner, is not surprised by the attack ad.
“I’m the toughest opponent,” Taylor said in an interview. “The last thing they want me to do is win.”
Taylor feels Republicans are attempting to tie him to Obama in an effort to hurt him in the general election. In 2012, Obama lost all four counties that make up CD 6, despite his continuing popularity with Democrats.
“I’ve been in this political game long enough to know they’re gonna try to do whatever they can to win,” Taylor told the News-Journal. “Sometimes it’s hitting below the belt.”
