Political attack ads target key races in Florida
You know it's close to election day when the really harsh political ads hit the airwaves, like ones from the Republican Party of Florida that you can watch parts of above.
The ads are in local state House and Senate races that Republicans are worried they might lose. Some of the Republican candidates haven't been willing or available to debate the Democrats.
"Declared bankruptcy four times,” said one ad bashing House District 45 candidate Allie Braswell.
The ad points out his financial challenges as a business owner, something he addressed in a Tiger Bay debate with Republican Carolina Amesty.
“You are not competent to file a balanced budget and to represent one of the most influential districts in our state,” Amesty said.
“The party that she represents represented and elected a president who has had multiple bankruptcies, so I think we need to take a look at that,” Braswell said at the debate.
At the same debate, Democrats Carlos Guillermo Smith in House 37, Rishi Bagga in House 35 and Joy Goff-Marcil in Senate District 10 appeared, but state Sen. Jason Brodeur declined. He's also declined our WESH 2 debate and every single interview request we have made this campaign season.
Smith's opponent, Susan Plasencia, did not respond to the invitation or our WESH 2 debate request.
And Bagga's opponent, Fred Hawkins, canceled at the last minute, saying he needed to attend to flooding in Osceola County following Hurricane Ian. He has not responded to multiple requests for a debate or interview.
In a credit to the Republican candidates in districts 36, 38 and 39, Rachel Plakon did accept a debate with Deborah Poulalion.
Rep. David Smith engaged in debate with his opponent, Sarah Henry, and Doug Bankson joined us to debate Tiffany Hughes.
The word "radical" is so far leading the race for the most abused word in a local TV commercial.
For the record, Democrats are using your mailboxes to deliver all kinds of jabs at Republicans.