A.G. Gancarski
Since Hurricane Michael became an imminent threat and then made a catastrophic landfall last week, Gov. Rick Scott has been in emergency management mode.
That role, familiar for the two-term Republican governor, has insulated Scott from campaign events and inconvenient questions from media about issues ranging from Donald Trump to his blind trust.
The Scott campaign has already teased the possibility of Scott no longer appearing on the trail at all, with his wife Ann Scott serving as a surrogate — of the sort who can’t be expected to answer policy questions.
However, contends Dan McLaughlin (an adviser and former spokesperson for Nelson), Scott leaving the trail is simply a “cynical attempt to avoid facing voters.”
“We’re not going to let Rick Scott hide from voters in the last three weeks of a major election — especially while he’s significantly increasing his negative TV attack ads,” McLaughlin vowed.
McLaughlin charges Scott with wiring $18 million of his own money for these ads, though it should be added that Scott has been adding positive messaging to the mix.
Piggybacking off an item in POLITICO Florida, McLaughlin noted that Scott “can’t campaign around the state without protesters; he can’t risk having to answer people’s questions directly; he can’t campaign across a state that’s plagued with red tide and green algae; he can’t campaign and answer questions on how he’s enriched himself in public office.”
McLaughlin bemoaned the rescheduling of a CNN debate from Oct. 16 to Oct. 30, describing it as “very late in the election,” and suggested a town hall … a format that the Governor likely wouldn’t prefer.
Nelson soon enough took to Twitter himself to slam Scott for a contrast/attack ad in which the Governor compared his storm relief work to Nelson’s negative campaigning. Below, just a few of the tweets from the afternoon.
Bill Nelson operative: ‘We’re not going to let Rick Scott hide from voters’ https://t.co/dNg3gErLdl
— Bill Nelson (@NelsonForSenate) October 16, 2018
Rick Scott inviting the Florida Highway Patrol to the governor’s mansion in the aftermath of the hurricane – and then using them in a newly cut campaign ad – is a new low, even for a career politician like Rick Scott. In fact, it's terrible. Here’s a frame from the campaign ad. pic.twitter.com/1Av2GGcx8J
— Bill Nelson (@NelsonForSenate) October 16, 2018
Apparently, “Scott will be leaving the campaign trail to focus on the hurricane” means that Scott instead will be using the hurricane to film a new campaign commercial. A new low – even for Scott. See for yourself in this frame from his newly unveiled ad: pic.twitter.com/ZcqJlVSorX
— Bill Nelson (@NelsonForSenate) October 16, 2018
Hey, @ScottforFlorida. @SenBillNelson didn't run the ad about you ripping off TRICARE. He had nothing to do with it.
WE ran the ad, on behalf of our 550,000 vets, military families & supporters, b/c your defrauding our military was a disgrace.
Next time have the guts to @ us. https://t.co/WqdvwLVCvQ
— VoteVets (@votevets) October 16, 2018
Republicans were quick to pounce on what one op called a “bizarre Twitter rant.”
Camille Gallo, NRSC Regional Press Secretary: “Meanwhile, nobody seems to know where Senator Nelson even is today…. So, we have to ask, is everything ok over there?”
Gallo spotlighted “laughably claiming the Governor is hiding from voters” and “having ranted about the CNN debate being cancelled because of the storm, claiming he’d debate on October 22nd before voting starts…but Floridians have been able to vote by mail for weeks.”
Additionally, Gallo notes “Nelson doubled down on the ad his liberal pals are running for him that shamelessly mocks Governor Rick Scott’s military service.”
5 comments
MicheleRyan
October 16, 2018 at 7:03 pm
BILL NELSON and Socialist ANDREW GILLUM are running for Senate & Governor respectively. Nelson / Gillum both proudly supports abolishing ICE, sanctuary cities, amnesty for millions of illegal aliens, using taxpayer funds for illegal aliens & DACA. In addition, both are weak on border security and national defense.
If you OPPOSE illegal immigration, taxpayer funds used for illegal aliens, sanctuary cities, amnesty r Please VOTE NO for BILL NELSON & ANDREW GILLUM this November….we can’t afford anymore Democrats.
Vote this election for candidates who prioritize citizens over illegal aliens (bet you thought that was a given …not anymore.) Those who oppose sanctuary cities, open borders, non citizens voting, amnesty for millions of illegal aliens and taxpayer funded in state college tuition discounts for illegals. That means NO Democrats. Democrats want to encourage, reward, protect illegal aliens with jobs, amnesty, drivers licenses, discounts for college tuition, scholarships, then after they’re here….protect them from deportation. This creates MORE illegal entry and the Democrats know this.
Recent Gallup poll- almost 60% of Democrats now view socialism positively, little changed from 2010 survey.
To Democrats programs like “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA) and “Temporary Protective Status” (TPS.) there is nothing temporary about these programs. To Democrats these are permanent programs with a false name to mislead the public…..and it worked. Once again Democrats have found and used liberal judges to stop these programs from deporting. The goal for Democrats is to flood the country with illegal aliens & refugees and fight against / eliminate deportations.
Notice how Democrats fight to the death against any voted ID laws.
The current migration at our southern border is costing taxpayers a Kings Ransom. Fleeing persecution? or fleeing for freebies? they sure don’t stay in Mexico when they reach “safety” or ask for political asylum in Mexico. Why? because Mexico will give them NOTHING. So they make the long journey to our border, our generous Democrats and our tax dollars. Just debating DACA in congress is costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars….. thank the parents.
Just a few examples of the more outrageous costs associated with illegal immigration, we will pass this burden on to our children and grand children as has been passed on to us.
*The cost of educating illegal aliens children is staggering. From K-12 it costs taxpayers $122,000 for EACH illegal alien student. This does not include the billions spent on bilingual education for illegal aliens.
*Taxpayers in numerous states are funding in state college tuition discounts for illegal aliens. Cost to taxpayers over a billion dollars annually.
*30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens.Does not include local jails and State Prisons. At $21,000 per year expense per inmate in Federal Prison U do the math.
*$3Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate, process Illegal aliens in the Criminal justice system. I repeat 3 MILLION a DAY.
*$2.2Billion dollars a year is spent on is spent on food assistance programs such as SNAP (food stamps) WIC, & free school lunches.
If you OPPOSE illegal immigration, taxpayer funds used for illegal aliens, sanctuary cities, non citizens voting, open borders, amnesty for millions of illegal aliens, weak border security, tax increases. VOTE NO for ALL Democrats this November.
Frankie M.
October 16, 2018 at 9:15 pm
Thx fer helping me decide to vote fer Gillum/Nelson. Much obliged!
greatdane813
October 19, 2018 at 7:56 pm
Yep, me too, I will be voting for Gillum/Nelson! Rick Scott, a rich crook who probably prayed to God that hurricane Michael would offer him so many photo ops is NOT someone that is looking out for our state. Oh, and by the way, the Governor’s Mansion belongs to the people of Florida, not Rick Scott, and certainly not his wife. So anyone that was “invited” to stay the night were guests of the State, not the Guvnah.
Sharron B.
October 17, 2018 at 9:58 pm
You’ve convinced me to vote for Gillum and Nelson. Good work.
VisaVixen
October 17, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Methinks Scott is hiding because of the bigly NYTimes expose: https://nyti.ms/2QQ6uAc
Comments are closed.