Scott Powers
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine has launched a new, bilingual television commercial highlighting his relief efforts for Puerto Rico and declaring he will never turn his back on Puerto Rico.
The 30-second spot “Siempre” [“Always”] includes narration in Spanish and Levine orating in both English and Spanish, while images of the island’s devastation from Hurricane Maria, and of a relief plane, and of Levine being welcomed by a joyous San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, appear.
The ad, payed for by his All About Florida independent political committee, will run for five weeks in select markets, including “heavy rotation” in Orlando.
Levine, the former mayor of Miami Beach, faces former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham of Tallahassee, Winter Park businessman Chris King, and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in seeking the 2018 primary nomination to run for governor.
The commercial begins with the narrator saying, in Spanish, “The people for Puerto Rico needed help, and Philip Levine took action.”
Levine then declares, in English, “Washington politicians pointed fingers at each other; I pointed a cargo plane filled with life-saving supplies to San Juan. I said we will never turn our back on the people of Puerto Rico––I meant it and I always will.”
He then switches to Spanish, declaring, “We will always be with Puerto Rico.”
The narrator concludes, in Spanish, “Philip Levine, our leader.”
