Florida's expensive race for governor highlights lax laws

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Gary Fineout, Associated Press
 Updated 10:46 am, Sunday, May 20, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's wide-open race for governor won't be decided for another six months, but it's already triggered a wave of expensive television ad buys from groups taking advantage of gray areas in the state's campaign finance laws.

Campaigns are interpreting the law so liberally — and some experts think they will get away with it — that it could essentially render the laws meaningless.

So far, at least $13 million has been spent on television ads in the governor's race that includes two Republicans and four Democrats vying for the job that will be vacated by Gov. Rick Scott. Television ads are poised to play a crucial role in the race since polls continue to show a majority of the state's voters don't really know the Republican or Democratic candidates vying to replace him.

Some of the ads are being paid for by groups that insist they have no legal obligation to disclose who's paying for them. Other ads are being coordinated with campaigns relying on their own legal interpretation to sidestep laws and rules intended to place limits on ad campaigns being funded by large donors.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Florida-s-expensive-race-for-governor-highlights-12929086.php

[mitch96]

1. "TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida's wide-open race for governor"

And you thought the only entertainment in Florida was in Disney world or South beach... HA!
Let the games begin!!
m

[Geechie]

2. Open for Business

That’s actually printed on the bottom of all Florida welcome signs now, in the Rick Scott era.

[Firestorm49]

3. Money, money, money, money, money.

Today’s spectacle is brought to you by none other than the Supreme Court, whose motto is; Transparency? We don’t need no stinking transparency!

[lark]

4. It's way worse in the race for Senator.

Every single day I see these shadowy dark ads that state no facts, just make insinuations that Bill Nelson collects millions of $$ for doing nothing - which is a total lie. Not one single fact is stated in the entire ad, not one. Then there ad the ads Scott is paying for where it's all bright colors and moderate sounding lies, but again almost no specifics. Nelson and the Dem party need to step it up, its like they are conceding NE FL, and there are lots of Dems here. Get with it and advertise over the entire state!

[csziggy]

5. Scott has far more money forTV ads than Nelson does

I set it up to donate as much as I can every month to Nelson's campaign but that is nothing compared to what Scott has already gotten from the big money people that routinely support Republicans, aside from the millions Scott can pull out of his own pocket.

Even though sometimes Bill Nelson does not vote the way I wish he would, he is still a solid Democrat and deserves to be re-elected.

From the Nelson campaign:

NBC NEWS ALERT: RICK SCOTT OUTSPENDING SEN. BILL NELSON 50 TO 1

To donate to Bill Nelson go to https://nelsonforsenate.com/

[mitch96]

7. "Scott has far more money"

The fucker spent over $75 MILLION of his own money to be gov'nr. God knows how much in shadow money flowed in... He has a net worth (2016) of over $150 million so I guess he will out spend Nelson.. I just hope the blue tide and clear heads prevail...
m

[dajoki]

6. Thank you "Citizens United" n/t