TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Republican Gov. Rick Scott is opting to soften his image instead of attacking Republican-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist in a campaign ad that features his 2-year-old grandson.
Scott acknowledges in his ninth ad that he hasn’t had a great relationship with the news media since Crist announced he would challenge Scott.
As he reads a newspaper at a lawn table, Scott says, “You might’ve noticed the news media is not always my friend. But they aren’t the critics I worry about. This guy is.”
Scott then puts down the newspaper to reveal grandson Auguste sitting on his lap. The images then show Scott playing with and reading to the boy.
“I spend every day worrying about what my grandson will think of me. I’m focused on the Florida we leave for his generation. That means more jobs and more opportunity. We’ve made a good start, but we have a lot more work to do. “
He then turns to Auguste, who’s eating a cracker, and says, “What do you say?”
The boy replies, “Let’s get to work, grandpa.” Scott smiles and says, “That’s my line.”
The ad is a different approach from the attack ads that have so far dominated the re-election campaign. Five of Scott’s first eight ads have criticized former Governor Crist on issues ranging from his new support of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul to his decision to run for Senate instead of re-election while serving as governor during the recession.
The political committee set up to re-elect Scott is spending $1 million on the ad, which will air statewide. The Let’s Get to Work committee has already spent more than $12 million on television ads with just less than six months to go until the election.
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