Email insights: Democrats say Ron DeSantis running ‘slash-and-burn’ campaign

DeSantis May_2018 (3)

The Florida Democratic Party bashed Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis in a Friday email for running what it calls a “slash-and-burn, Trumpian campaign for governor.”

The party pointed a news coverage of a recent campaign rally in Citrus County where the Donald Trump-backed gubernatorial hopeful railed against the “four liberals” on the state Supreme Court and refused to condemn calls from the crowd suggesting they be lynched.

“Sound more like Breitbart than a future governor of Florida? Breitbart likes that,” FDP said in the email. “Rebekah Mercer — one of the site’s owners — cut a $25,000 check for DeSantis a few days ago. The site has also emerged as one of DeSantis’ nastiest attack dogs, publishing multiple articles attacking Adam Putnam and defending DeSantis’ conservative credentials.”

FDP included links to articles on Breitbart, suggesting the right-wing news platform is serving as a sunshine pumper for his campaign, and tossed in a link to a Steve Hantler-penned op-ed on RealClearPolitics that paints Putnam as a Trump basher.

“It’s now clear that DeSantis intends to run a campaign where he defends the President on cable television — and courts the most fringe voters back home in Florida,” the email said.

DeSantis and Putnam are the only two major Republicans seeking the party’s nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Rick Scott. Running on the Democratic side are former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, Orlando-area businessman Chris King and former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine.

The primary election is Aug. 28.

Drew Wilson

Drew Wilson covers legislative campaigns and fundraising for Florida Politics. He is a former editor at The Independent Florida Alligator and business correspondent at The Hollywood Reporter. Wilson, a University of Florida alumnus, covered the state economy and Legislature for LobbyTools and The Florida Current prior to joining Florida Politics.


4 comments

  • John Fleming

    June 2, 2018 at 9:41 am

    sound like the dems are afraid of him

  • NFL Gator

    June 2, 2018 at 11:29 pm

    Nice try Drew.

    The comments from 2 people in the crowd in Citrus were not directed at the FL Supreme Court Justices but to the convicted child murderer, Joseph Smith.

    The author of this manufactured hit piece is either clueless or a tool for an opponent of Congressman DeSantis for Governor.

    The comments made in Citrus County were referring to hanging Joseph Smith, because Smith, a convicted felon, murderer, and child rapist had his death penalty conviction over turned. He is having a new hearing due to four liberals on the FL Supreme Court. Joseph Smith kidnapped, murdered and raped 11 year old Carlie Brucia.

    DeSantis was a solid Constitutional conservative long before President Trump was elected. Upholding the Rule of Law is not the fringe of any party. It constitutes the belief of the majority of law abiding citizens.

    More yellow journalism from FL Politics blog, their specialty.

  • voncile

    June 3, 2018 at 12:57 am

    At this time, I’m putting my money and my vote on DeSantis!

  • NEFL Gator

    June 3, 2018 at 9:35 am

    Nice try.

    The comments from 2 people in the crowd in Citrus were not directed at the FL Supreme Court Justices but to the convicted child murderer, Joseph Smith.

    The author of this manufactured hit piece is either clueless or a tool for an opponent of Congressman DeSantis for Governor.

    The comments made in Citrus County were referring to hanging Joseph Smith, because Smith, a convicted felon, murderer, and child rapist, had his death penalty conviction over turned. He is having a new hearing due to four liberals on the FL Supreme Court. Joseph Smith kidnapped, murdered and raped 11 year old Carlie Brucia.

    DeSantis was a solid Constitutional conservative long before President Trump was elected. Upholding the Rule of Law is not the fringe of any party. It constitutes the belief of the majority of law abiding citizens.

    More yellow journalism from FL Politics blog, their specialty.

Comments are closed.


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