Republican congressional candidate and former Democrat Belinda Keiser is once again feeling the heat in her District 22 primary election race after a text message and new attack website was sent to voters, labeling her as a liberal Democrat who ran for office as a Democrat, and donated to progressive Democrats like Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Hillary Clinton.
"Democrat Belinda Keiser. Belinda Keiser says she's one of us but the truth...Keiser showered liberal and progressive democrats with contributions over the years," the message paid for by the American Pact claimed.
The attack comes just weeks after a scathing website revealing Mrs. Keiser's deep business ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as vice chancellor of her non-for-profit school, Keiser University.
The website, called "Keiser Loves China," takes a deep dive into Mrs. Keiser and Keiser University for receiving significant U.S. federal aid while holding operations in Shanghai, and having partnered up with several CCP-controlled universities and agencies who all hold a patriotic and idealogical allegiance to the CCP and its President, Xi Jinping.
The website popped up following forum put on by the Collier County Republican Executive Committee in June.
"First, we learned that the university she and her husband found and run - partners with Communist China," the new attack message continued.
Florida's Congressional District 22, which covers all of Hendry County, a large part of Collier, Palm Beach, and Broward counties in , was redrawn by the Florida Legislature and could be a major pickup for Republicans looking to keep their slim majority in the House of Representatives this fall.
This latest information certainly doesn't help Mrs. Keiser's chances. However, Keiser has received congressional endorsements from Florida Republican Congressional Reps. Jimmy Patronis, Neal Dunn, Aaron Bean, Vern Buchanan, and Randy Fine, possibly subduing any forthcoming backlash in her bid.
"Now it's clear Keiser is really a liberal Democrat who ran as a Democrat, voted for Democrats, and contributed to Democrats including Al Gore, Hillary & Bill Clinton, and Debbie Wasserman Schult," the message added.
Keiser is running against Activist Michael Thompson, Terri Hasdorff, Businessman Casey Askar, Real Estate Broker David Burck, IVF clinic owner Michael Carbonara, and Richard Evans.
Democratic primary candidates in the race include Pia Dandiya and Kaysia Earley.
The primary is Aug. 18.
