As President Barack Obama prepares to visit Florida on Friday, the television airwaves in the Sunshine State are increasingly full of ads either backing or bashing his bid for a second term.

Obama carried Florida in 2008 and polls show the Sunshine State should be close in November when the president will face Republican candidate former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachuetts in the general election.

On Wednesday, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a conservative political group that pushes for free-market solutions, released a new ad attacking Obama in several key states including Florida. The group is pouring more than $1 million into Florida to keep the ad on the airwaves for 10 days starting on Wednesday. 



Much like several other spots from the Romney campaign and its allies, the new ad from AFP slams Obama for insisting earlier in the month that the private sector was “doing fine” on his watch.

“President Obama’s statement that the private sector is ‘doing fine,’ is a slap in the face to the countless Floridians who are unemployed, underwater on their house, and struggling to put food on the table,” said Slade O’Brien, the Florida director of the AFP, on Wednesday. “Federal tax increases and massive regulations by agencies such as the overzealous EPA have stunted our private sector. I welcome the president to come to Florida and see how ‘fine’ our economy really is.

“Florida and America need a leader that will provide real solutions, real jobs, and real growth," added O’Brien. “It’s time President Obama supported economic policies that decrease the federal government’s role in our everyday lives.”

AFP also served notice that they will be running another ad in Florida -- this time targeting Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson who is seeking a third term in November.

The Obama team is also taking to the airwaves, running two new commercials in Florida and other battleground states bashing Romney. In one ad, the Obama team hammers Romney for his record as governor of Massachusetts, insisting that he raised taxes.




Another ad from the Obama camp looks to call into question Romney’s record on jobs.





Besides running ads in Florida, Obama will campaign in the Sunshine State on Friday. He is scheduled to speak to a Hispanic group in Orlando and at an event at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.



Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.