Ryan Nicol
Democratic candidate Pam Keith is releasing her first TV ad targeting GOP Rep. Brian Mast as Keith seeks his seat in Florida’s 18th Congressional District
Keith is competing against lawyer Oz Vazquez for the Democratic nomination. Mast is also facing a primary challenge from retired police sergeant Nick Vessio.
Keith’s new 30-second ad is titled “Betrayed” and launched with fewer than two weeks remaining until the Aug. 18 primary.
“Donald Trump lied, calling COVID a hoax. Brian Mast was silent,” the ad’s narrator begins.
It should be noted fact checkers have ruled Trump did not call COVID-19 a hoax. Rather, he used the phrase in response to Democrats’ efforts to pin blame for the virus on him. Trump called those efforts to blame him for the virus’s spread a “hoax.”
Back to Keith’s ad, the narrator continues, “Trump betrayed our troops allowing Putin to put bounties on their heads. Brian Mast? Silence. Then Trump unleashed the military on peaceful protesters. Mast? Not a word.”
That’s when Keith appears on screen with a banner highlighting the Palm Beach Post’s endorsement for her in the Democratic primary.
“I’m former Navy Officer Pam Keith and I approve this message because American democracy is in free fall. Our country needs her veterans to honor their oaths and speak out about what’s right. Brian Mast won’t, but I will.”
Keith has out-raised Vazquez ahead of the Aug. 18 primary, according to new reports filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission. Keith added more than $97,000 in the latest period as compared to just under $40,000 for Vazquez. She also has a cash on hand advantage over Vazquez by a $101,000 to $62,000 margin.
CD 18 covers parts of northern Palm Beach County — including West Palm Beach — and extends upward into Martin and St. Lucie counties. Keith’s team has touted an analysis by Rachel Bitecofer of the Niskanen Center, arguing the district will be a toss up in November.
Still, Mast maintains a big money advantage. He raised about $278,000 last period — nearly triple Keith’s total — and has more than $1.81 million still on hand.
Non-party affiliated candidate K.W. Miller is also running for the seat.
3 comments
Pam Keith
August 8, 2020 at 2:13 am
Ryan: Your “fact checkers” are DEAD WRONG about what Trump said, and we have the video to prove it.
NO ONE was “blaming” Trump at the time he made that statement. There were no deaths yet, or blame to levied. The speech was Feb. 29. The Dems were urging Trump to take COVID seriously. He claimed COVID was completely under control because of the great job he did (IKR?). His comment was about the Dems essentially overreacting because the virus was no big deal and that Dems were harping on the virus to weaken his economic numbers. THAT is the essence of HIS assertion that it was the Dem’s “new hoax.” The “hoax” part is Dem’s claiming that it was serious and NOT under control.
In that speech Trump said we had contained the virus at 15 cases, no deaths. I have included the link for those who want to see the clip for themselves. While your “fact checkers” may wish to split hairs about what specifically Trump called a “hoax,” 165K DEAD AMERICANS later proves that NONE OF IT, not one micron, was a HOAX of any flavor whatsoever. The Dems were RIGHT! Mast, Trump and the GOP were absolutely WRONG! Dead wrong…to be precise.
https://youtu.be/G5TZ6fTYrsE
Sonja Fitch
August 8, 2020 at 4:50 am
Mast won his election based on information obtained from a Russian operative working with the GOP! Mast is a damn traitor!
Derek Hankerson
August 8, 2020 at 7:20 am
Not sure what this has to do with Congress, but okay. And, for the record the treasure coast had traditionally been red dating to the 80, and it flipped blue once. Don’t be fooled by folks who don’t actually live in the district or buy into that pivot BS.
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