Drew Wilson
A political committee linked to the Florida Chamber of Commerce is putting seven figures behind a new ad in support of Adam Putnam’s campaign for Governor.
“This is Florida. Good paying jobs, balanced budgets, and a future as bright as the sunshine we’re so famous for. Adam Putnam will keep it going,” the ad narrator states. “Adam Putnam will keep taxes low, tackle traffic congestion, and Adam Putnam will ensure our kids have the skills they need for the jobs they want. Florida first, Florida’s best.”
The 30-second ad closes with Putnam standing alongside his family and includes clips of him working in a kitchen and speaking with factory workers. The factory clips appear to be cut from Putnam’s recent campaign ad touting his plan to strengthen vocational education opportunities for Florida students.
The Florida Chamber, via Securing Florida’s Future, Inc., is spending at least $1 million running the ad on Fox News. That major media buy is in addition to the more than $1.9 million the Florida Chamber has pumped into Putnam’s political committee — $1.32 million via Florida Jobs PAC and $575,000 via Florida Chamber of Commerce PAC.
In early May, the Florida Chamber endorsed Putnam in his Republican Primary battle against Northeast Florida U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who entered the at the beginning of the year.
Putnam and DeSantis are the only major Republicans vying to replace Gov. Rick Scott, who is term-limited and running for Senate in the fall.
As of April 30, Putnam’s Florida Grown committee had raised $23.43 million and had about $15.3 million banked. The 43-year-old Republican has also amassed nearly $5.5 million for his campaign account, with $3.6 million on hand. DeSantis’ April finance reports showed total fundraising of $7.8 million and a little over $7 million banked.
Finance reports covering all of May are due to the state on June 11, however records on Florida Grown’s website show the committee had spent $3.25 million as of May 21, much of it on media buys.
The Florida Chamber ad is below.
