Republican Senator Rick Scott is planning to spend around $10 million on new TV ads in the final stretch of the Florida Senate race, focusing on major media markets like Tampa, Orlando, and Miami. His opponent, former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, is receiving support from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in the form of a “multi-million” effort. However, Scott still holds a significant cash advantage, having already spent $8 million from his personal wealth.
Despite being seen as the favorite in the race, Scott is facing criticism from Democrats who are framing him as extreme and out of touch with the interests of Floridians. Public polling has shown Scott leading, but not by large margins, indicating that the race is competitive. Scott has run his campaign as if he expects to win, focusing his messaging on painting Mucarsel-Powell as an “open borders socialist.”
Scott’s campaign adviser expressed confidence in their ability to win regardless of the national money flowing into the race, citing polling data that shows Scott with a significant lead. Despite the competitive nature of the race, Scott has not debated Mucarsel-Powell and has focused less on her than she has on him. Democrats are positioning the race as up for grabs, hoping that Scott’s vulnerabilities will lead to an upset victory for Mucarsel-Powell.
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