Politics

U.S. Chamber Targets Bill Nelson's Vote on Obamacare in Statewide Ad Blitz

By: Jim Turner | Posted: May 10, 2012 3:55 AM

Around the State

Sen. Bill Nelson, Alan Grayson and Lois Frankel

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce isn’t waiting to find out who will challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Orlando, this November.

The business advocacy organization just wants someone representing Florida in Washington who doesn’t support Obamacare, who will be more in line with the business view of free markets and free enterprise.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday it is pumping big bucks into Florida with its first multimillion-dollar ad blitz of the 2012 cycle, aimed at Nelson and a pair of Democrats running for the U.S. House: former Rep. Alan Grayson and longtime state and local politician Lois Frankel.

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“This effort is part of our early aggressive and high-impact effort to set the terms of the debate and more importantly draw a sharp contrast with those who support free enterprise and those who support big government,” said Scott Reed, the senior political strategist for the U.S. Chamber.

Reed, a longtime GOP strategist who managed Bob Dole's 1996 presidential bid, was speaking during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday.

“We believe these efforts in Florida are going to start a healthy dialogue about Senator Nelson and his votes against the free enterprise system,” he added.

Representatives for Nelson were not immediately available to comment; neither were those from the Florida Democratic Party.

The ads began running Wednesday.

"Spots" against Nelson will be aired in the Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Pensacola and Mobile areas, and Alabama markets. The ad designed against Frankel will be shown in the West Palm Beach market; the one against Grayson in the Orlando area.

The chamber would not state how much the blitz, part of a multistate effort, will cost.

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Rob Engstrom, chamber national political director and senior vice president of political affairs and federation relations, called the national campaign the “largest in the 100-year history” of the chamber.

The chamber is now targeting nine U.S. Senate seats and 31 congressional districts across the country.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that ad buys by the chamber in eight Senate races and 12 House races have cost about $10 million.

The buy should be considered a boost to either of the top GOP challengers for the seat, as U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Naples, had $1.38 million in his campaign account as of April 1 and former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux had $1.19 million.

Meanwhile, Nelson has $9.5 million in the bank.

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Mark Wilson, Florida Chamber of Commerce president, said he “supports” the U.S. Chamber effort.

“This election in Florida in 2012 is all about a choice,” Wilson said. “Those who want America to fail and want America to be more like France, and on the other side, we have those who want to champion small-business owners, who want to champion for private-sector job growth.”

Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.

Tags: Alan Grayson, Bill Nelson, Bob Dole, Connie Mack, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida Democratic Party, George LeMieux, Lois Frankel, News, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Politics

Comments (6)

David Rosenfield

2:18PM MAY 16TH 2012

It is curious indeed the the Chamber should be against the Affordable Healthcare legislation. Clearly it is the first step to getting the healthcare cost spiral off the backs of business. Moreover universal coverage will invariably bring the cost down for all heathcare subscribers!

sam123

3:20AM MAY 14TH 2012

There are several resources available apart from the other resources where applicants can create use of those resources for planning of evaluation. APC qualifications validates the corresponding abilities to the applicants and also shows the present abilities as well as experience to the workers.

Anti-Tbags

1:23PM MAY 10TH 2012

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is absolutely anti- the average working American and is nothing more than a tool of the fatcats and the fatcat wannabes and their special interests. It's just one of the Big Money lobbying groups for the Big Business plutocracy that now controls this country, its economy and its workers.

Frank

10:56AM MAY 10TH 2012

Ah, the U.S. Chamber has joined the Mad Hatter's tea party.

But then, we always knew that mercury exposure caused over aggressiveness, mood swings, and anti-social behaviour.

Julie Delegal

8:54AM MAY 10TH 2012

You've got to be kidding me. Did the US Chamber bother to consult with the US health insurance industry? The Affordable Healthcare act just brought tons of individuals into the health insurance market, broadening the pool, spreading the risk, working to help contain costs. These are the principles of insurance--a capitalist endeavor, right? By allowing 26 & under to be covered by mom and dad, by providing tax disincentive for those who don't sign up, "Obamacare" enhances the private insurance market. It also defrays the cost of small biz owners like us, who are subsidizing the poor uninsured as it is with our higher premiums. This attack is bogus, and I'm shocked that the US Chamber would ignore business principles to peddle some other political agenda.

Doug S

7:47AM MAY 10TH 2012

I see first hand how the GOP led by the Tea Party wants to cut every program designed to help the poor children with pre existing conditions college age children with no insurance and seniors by wanting to kill every program including health care. They have no alternative to put on the table but say they will consider a bill down the road. The GOP lead by the Tea Party wants to cut the bottom programs to help finance the Military while going after SS and Medicare for those getting close to retirement age. If you dont believe it go to fact check dot org for the facts and pls stop looking at Fox which lies on every down.