Campaign season in Florida is in full swing, or in full political beatdown, as former Rep. Chris Collins (R), who was convicted of insider trading and imprisoned for 2 months, then pardoned by President Donald Trump, is the first candidate in congressional district 19 to be hit with an attack ad.
The Southwest Florida First PAC launched its first salvo of political ads this week, calling Rep. Collins “a disgraced New York Congressman” and being one of “a bunch of other carpetbaggers trying to buy our seat in Congress.”
The hits against Rep. Collins were brutal. One barb contrasted him with Democratic Progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar.
“During Collins' time in Congress, conservative watchdog group Club for Growth ranked him one of the most liberal Republicans in Washington.
How liberal? His last year in Congress, he ranked more liberal than radical leftist Ilhan Omar.
That’s not a Southwest Florida conservative. That’s a New York liberal.”
The Club for Growth did target Rep. Collins in 2017.
Who is behind Southwest Florida First PAC?
The Ads are running on two media outlets that Collins’ primary opponent Jim Schwartzel owns—local FOX News affiliate WFSB and WFSX-FM.
Schwartzel’s company, Sun Broadcasting Inc., recently purchased the Fox News affiliate from E.W. Scripps Company for $40 million.
Also, during a recent meet-and-greet, the candidates' event put on by the Naples Reagan Club, on Schwartzel’s campaign display table, this “Trump Country 93.7” bumper sticker was being handed out.
Another one of Schwartzel’s radio stations is, wait for it… “Trump Country 93.7.”
Coincidence?
We are not going to say that Schwartzel is behind the ads, but the PAC could appear to be indirectly supportive of the media mogul.
How?
Schwartzel is said to believe that he is the only local from the area running in the race, so the “bunch of other carpetbaggers” zinger is coincidentally fitting.
He does make a point, as it appears as if all of the candidates in the race have recently moved to Florida.
Former Illinois State Senator and businessman Jim Oberweis has owned a home in the area for 16 years. Catalina Lauf recently referred to herself as a "Blue State Refugee."
Ironically enough, both Schwartzel and Collins refrained from speaking to The Floridian at the event, but Lauf, Ola Hawatmeh, Oberwies, and former Rep. Madison Cawthorn, all did.
Stay tuned for a 4-part series of the Republican congressional primary race in CD 19.
