Former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell knows her audience.
The candidate for U.S. Senate, who has challenged Rick Scott, launched a digital ad this week called “Freedom” — just in time to run on platforms streaming the Copa América fútbol tournament that draws hundreds of thousands of Latin American viewers. And Latino voters.
“My mother brought me here from Ecuador for freedom. The same liberty that Rick Scott wants to take away,” she says in the 30-second video, highlighting Scott’s assault on women’s reproductive rights and support for an abortion ban. She says it’s a slippery slope.
“My family lived under a dictatorship. When corrupt politicians like Rick Scott attack one freedom, they never stop there. So I’m running for senate to stop him,” she says. “I will always protect our freedoms.”
Read related: Abortion rights, recreational pot make Florida ballot, may help Democrats
In a statement, Mucarsel-Powell made full use of Copa references to paint Scott — who she compares to Venezuelan strongmen Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro — as as a flagrant fouler.
“We don’t know who will win the Copa just yet, but we know who will lose under Rick Scott’s extremist agenda – he’s shown us his anti-reproductive freedom game plan time and time again,“ she said. “When politicians risk our lives, stripping us of our freedoms and attacking protections for IVF and contraceptives, it’s more than a red card – it’s enough to be removed from the field.
“Latino voters know that Rick Scott is a corrupt politician who will continue to launch attack after attack on our freedoms. Ya no más. While Rick Scott pushes a radical agenda that is so far offside from the American people, I’ll continue to focus on the goal of protecting Floridians’ freedoms so we can all yell goooooolazo in November!”
On Monday, she held a press conference to again denounce the overturning of Roe vs. Wade and call out the extremists in Florida. Standing with her was Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, who has endorsed her. So have U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor, Lois Frankel and Maxwell Frost, and labor unions the Florida CWA, SEIU Florida and American Federation of Government Employees. She’s also been campaigning with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Mucarsel-Powell continues to focus on Scott despite having a primary in which Democrat Palm City businessman Stanley Campbell, brother of pioneer rapper and former Miami-Dade mayoral candidate Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell, just got the AFL-CIO endorsement. Leaders told reporters they were impressed with his Navy background and his grasp of the issues in Washington, D.C.
On Tuesday, Mucarsel-Powell posted photos thanking the Miami-Dade Democratic Black Caucus for hosting a meet-and-greet for candidates Monday night. There were three congressional candidates there, including Campbell and Rodney Joseph, who is also in the Democratic primary.
“Grateful to have the support of so many leaders. Floridians are sick of extremist leaders, and this community is making change happen for Florida,” Mucarsel-Powell posted on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
(Note: This story has been edited to indicate that the tweet by Mucarsel-Powell did not announce an endorsement, just gratitude for the event. The Miami-Dade Democratic Black Caucus cannot endorse in statewide races. Ladra apologizes for the confusion.)
The former Congresswoman is leading the Democratic field for the primary and could even upset Scott in November, according a the most recent poll.
A survey from Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research indicates that the first-term senator has lost significant support, dropping from a 17-point lead in April to just 2 points now, 45 to 43 percent.
“Mucarsel-Powell was largely unknown in earlier surveys,” said Luzmarina Garcia, assistant professor of political science at FAU, in a statement released by the school. “However, as voters have been introduced to her, she has been gaining in the race. If this trend holds, it could be close in November.”
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell lobs ‘Freedom’ video ad vs Rick Scott in Copa América added by Ladra on
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