U.S. Senate candidates Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek released their first commercials of their three-way general election with former state House Speaker Marco Rubio over the holiday weekend.
In an ad called “Best of Both,” Crist, who is running as no-party candidate, touted his independence from the Republican Party he called home for most of his political career, as well as the Democratic Party who’s voters he had tried to pouch since leaving the GOP in April.
“How do we get results for Florida?,” he asks as he rearranges the letters in the words “Democrat” and “Republican” to spell “American.” “By putting aside our differences and putting people ahead of politics. Washington needs to stop all the finger pointing and focus on our common goals of fixing the economy, creating jobs, helping the middle class. As an independent, I will take the best ideas of Democrats and Republicans to get things done. Because at the end of the day, there’s only one party I work for.”
By contrast, Meek’s ad, titled “Only One,” seeks to lump Crist and Rubio together. “I’m Kendrick Meek, the Democrat for Senate, and with three of us running, I thought you should know what makes me different,” Meek said in the commercial. “I’m the only one who’s fought against developers draining the Everglades. The only one against drilling and after the BP spill. The only one against privatizing Social Security. The only one who’s pro-choice, who took on George Bush, who’s fought for middle class tax cuts, against high credit card fees and to raise the minimum wage. I’m Kendrick Meek and I’m the only one who can approve this message.”
Rubio, who temporarily suspended his campaign over the holiday weekend after the death of his father, released his first television commercial, a largely biographical piece, shortly after he won the Republican nomination Aug. 24.
Charlie Crist: Best of Both
Kendrick Meek: Only One
The News Service of Florida
