Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Democrats have been outspending Republicans in presidential ad buys, but U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is looking to close the gap in the closing days of the 2020 election.
The first-term Senator put some of the cash in his political committee to work by launching a new ad bashing Democrats and asking Florida voters to rally behind President Donald Trump.
Scott stars in the ad, which feeds into rumors he could launch a presidential campaign of his own in four years.
“Democrats have a radical plan for America. Joe Biden may not even be aware of it, but Kamala Harris is. It’s Medicare for All — ending your employer-based coverage. It’s packing the court, so they can chip away at our religious freedom, chip away at gun rights. It’s socialism, which makes everyone equally poor. And of course, defund the police,” Scott says in the ad.
He concludes: “Are you ready to give up on America? I’m not. Vote for Trump. It’s important.”
Most of the positions Scott projects onto Biden are false unless one buys the GOP narrative that the former Vice President is a stand-in who will bow down to the more liberal wing of the Democratic Party.
The former Vice President, for instance, has said he is against Medicare for All and has said he wants to increase police funding.
Exact details on the ad flight are unknown, though Scott’s political committee said it was backing it with a “significant six-figure buy.”
To watch the video, click on the image below:
Coronavirus Numbers
Positive cases:
— 780,220 FL residents (+4,005 since Tuesday)
— 10,206 Non-FL residents (+110 since Tuesday)
Origin:
— 6,977 Travel related
— 294,797 Contact with a confirmed case
— 7,669 Both
— 470,777 Under investigation
Hospitalizations:
— 48,722 in FL
Deaths:
— 16,775 in FL
Voters are Voting
Total ballots cast: 6,921,358
Voted by mail: 4,066,974
— Democrats: 1,888,415
— Republicans: 1,267,507
— NPA/Other: 911,052
Voted early: 2,854,384
— Democrats: 953,316
— Republicans: 1,328,312
— NPA/Other: 572,756
Evening Reads
“The 2020 race, projected to cost $14 billion, is the most expensive in history.” via The New York Times
“Joe Biden’s path to 270 widens, Donald Trump’s path narrows, as Texas moves to tossup” via Amy Walter of The Cook Political Report
“The tortured self-justification of one very powerful Trump-loathing anonymous Republican.” via Olivia Nuzzi of New York Magazine
“What Trump and Biden’s travel schedules tell us about the state of the race” via Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post
“7 days out” via Steve Schale
“Trump, Biden to hold dueling Thursday rallies in Tampa” via Fox 13
“Matt Gaetz suggests Philadelphia riots could harm Democrats on Election Day” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
“Florida man arrested after Ron DeSantis discovers someone changed his address in voter database” via WFLA
“Republicans and Democrats, in rare unity, take aim at Amendment 3” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO
“Florida Supreme Court rejects challenge against measure to end closed primary elections” via the staff of the Tallahassee Democrat
“New tension at the polls as supporters get aggressive and officials call in police” via Mary Ellen Klas and Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald
“Jeering sign-wavers. Caravans of honking trucks. Voter intimidation or free speech?” via Abigail Hauslohner of The Washington Post
“Brevard supervisor of elections deploys guards for security at vote-by-mail ballot boxes” via Dave Berman of Florida Today
“Pregnant Orange County woman in labor votes from polling place parking lot” via Katie Rice of the Orlando Sentinel
“Florida adds 4,115 coronavirus cases and 66 deaths Wednesday” via Romy Ellenbogen of the Tampa Bay Times
“State outlines plan to provide COVID-19 vaccine” via Christine Sexton of The News Service of Florida
“’Irresponsible and dangerous’: Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried knocks DeSantis on handling of COVID, schools” via David Jones of First Coast News
“No full house: ESPN reports Super Bowl crowd capped at 20%” via Renzo Downey for Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“There is nothing about this election at this point that looks like 2016. It’s cats and dogs compared to 2016.” — Democratic strategist Steve Schale, on early voting and mail ballot trends.
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