Senator Bill Nelson must be feeling desperate in his Senate campaign against Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
The Florida Democrat accused his opponent of “hiding from voters” in an email sent to political reporters by Nelson’s campaign advisor Dan McLaughlin, according to FLA News Online.
McLaughlin accused Scott of “concocting” a campaign “scheme” to avoid speaking to voters on issues plaguing his administration, calling the governor out – for prioritizing hurricane relief efforts over politics.
As far-fetched as it sounds, Scott’s focus on the state over which he still presides as governor in the wake of a category 4 hurricane which hit the Florida Panhandle, was a point of contention for Nelson.
Scott “is using the aftermath of this storm because he 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 said.
Understandably, Scott has been pre-occupied, as he should be, with recovery efforts in his state which has seen a record-breaking Hurricane Michael leave death and destruction in its wake. The rising death toll, with at least 15 in Florida’s Bay County alone, coupled with a mountain of debris have been at the forefront of Scott’s agenda.
He toured Panama City with President Donald Trump on Monday as his wife, Ann Scott, is now campaigning on his behalf.
“If Senator Nelson wants to use devastation in huge swaths of the Panhandle and the deaths of Floridians as an opportunity to score cheap political points, that’s his prerogative,” Scott campaign spokeswoman Kerri Wyland fired back at the Nelson campaign. “Governor Scott has more important things to do – like help the Panhandle rebuild and getting people back in their homes and jobs.”
Nelson, meanwhile, appears anything but confident with the cheap shots at Scott for doing his job.
Rick Scott is misusing his official office for political purposes by using the ongoing storm recovery as the backdrop for his new campaign ad. That’s not “leadership.” That’s a new low by a career politician. – BN
— Nelson for U.S. Senate (@NelsonForSenate) October 16, 2018
The irony of calling Scott out as a “career politician” by Nelson, who was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives back in 1972, was apparently lost on the Democrat. Nelson also slammed Scott over the timing of an upcoming debate, throwing a tantrum because apparently the governor should have been better in charge of the weather.
rick scott must be confused in saying we haven’t accepted a cnn debate. the cnn debate we accepted would have been tonight. then the storm hit. if scott wants a debate BEFORE voting starts on oct. 22 – you bet we’ll be there. we won’t allow him to hide from voters.
— Nelson for U.S. Senate (@NelsonForSenate) October 16, 2018
Scott apparently accepted a CNN invitation for a debate just days before the November election, on October 25,
Day 2 and @SenBillNelson hasn’t accepted @CNN’s offer for a debate…
– Team Scott pic.twitter.com/jc31ekPtSj— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) October 16, 2018
But Nelson’s last minute attacks seem to reveal a candidate who may be worried about his opponent’s lead, which some recent polls have indicated.
First #FLSEN numbers since the storm show Rick Scott with a narrow edge over Bill Nelson. Via @StPetePolls https://t.co/ihVa62waro pic.twitter.com/nzICY84PKA
— Liam Donovan (@LPDonovan) October 17, 2018
Democrats would do well to stop criticizing and pay attention to Florida voters who appear to approve of Scott’s handling of Hurricane Michael by 40 percentage points.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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