Ties to Democratic, pro-Castro ally could decide this "Toss-Up" congressional race in Florida

Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R) has managed to hold his Democratic-leaning congressional for three terms because he’s played it right down the middle, and has even managed to agitate Republicans by pushing back against President Donald Trump.

Curbelo faces another touch challenge in the 2018 midterm elections. Democratic congressional nominee Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is likeable and has been able to raise enough money to bring her within 1-point of Curbelo in the latest Mason-Dixon poll.

With the race being so tight, it was only a matter of time before Team Curbelo and Team Mucarsel-Powell unleashed the political hounds against one another.

Mucarsel-Powel has been trying to label Curbelo as being somewhat pro-Trump and has hit him using the same Democratic Party talking points being used against all Republicans. Curbelo is as middle of the road as they get, so many of those points really don’t affect him.

Curbelo, as expected, is fighting back and going as far as calling out Mucarsel-Powell as an “extremist” because of her “BFF” Rep. Barbara Lee (D).

In the latest press release from Team Curbelo, Rep. Lee is described as one of the most “radical leftist extremists in Congress” for her ties and friendships with Communist leaders and terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere.

"Debbie Mucarsel-Powell knows her extremist values are so out of touch with the South Florida community she has been on a lying spree to cover it up. But fortunately for South Florida voters she is finally going to be honest about the extremist she truly is as she rallies with Barbara Lee in South Florida today. Congresswoman Lee is one of the most radical leftist extremists in Congress. Over the years she has befriended and defended the likes of the Castro Brothers, Nicolas Maduro, Daniel Ortega, and FARC terrorists in Colombia. Lee was also the only Member of Congress to vote against the resolution that allowed the United States to defend itself by attacking al-Qaeda after the 9-11 attacks."-Curbelo press release

Curbelo’s Press Secretary Joanna Rodriguez took Mucarsel-Powell to task.
 
"We knew Debbie had poor taste in friends considering her over $700,000 pay day from a Ukrainian oligarch linked to contract killings and $5,000 check from an accused child molester, but a pro-Castro, pro-Maduro communist ally is a new low,” Curbelo spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said. “How Debbie Mucarsel-Powell can think she could represent the victims of communism and dictatorships like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua that make up the South Florida community after today is inconceivable. She has slapped the survivors of these murderous regimes in the face with this despicable move."

In a congressional district, heavy with Cuban exiles and a growing Venezuelan and Colombian community, it may prudent for Mucarsel-Powell to keep Rep. Lee at arm’s length.

Rep. Lee once asked that Americans “stop and pause and mourn” the death of Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro because he “led a revolution in Cuba that led social improvements for his people” and was “dedicated to the Cuban people,” according to The Mercury News.

Again, this race is too close to call, but in the end, Mucarsel-Powell’s tie to Lee could be a political death blow.