With state CFO Alex Sink, the heavy favorite to win the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, running television ads attacking Republican candidates Rick Scott and Attorney General Bill McCollum, the Republicans struck back on Tuesday -- running a website and a new commercial attacking her.

The Florida’s Future Fund (FFF), which is associated with the Republican Governors Association (RGA), launched a new website attacking Sink for her record at NationsBank and Bank of America. The FFF maintained that Sink oversaw at least 6,000 Floridians losing their jobs when NationsBank bought out Barnett Bank.

The RGA and the FFF launched a 15-second ad, blasting Sink for the loss of those jobs while accepting more than $8 million in salary and bonuses.

The Sink camp quickly responded on Tuesday, with Shellie Levin, who serves as Sink’s deputy campaign manager, sending out an e-mail to supporters, attacking the ad.

“Alex's new ad has only been on the air for one day,” wrote Levin. “And already a Republican front group called ‘Florida's Future Fund’ has started running a false and misleading TV ad attacking her.

“We knew the attacks were coming, but never this soon -- it's clear the Republicans think the only way for them to win is if they drag Alex down to their level,” continued Levin.