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Democratic groups launch major digital campaign against Rick Scott

Will spend $1.1 million.
 
Published Aug. 8, 2018|Updated Aug. 8, 2018

Two Democratic groups are launching a substantial digital offensive against Rick Scott, including an ad faulting him for Florida's decision not to expand Medicaid.

The campaign will total $1.1 million and is funded by Priorities USA Action and Senate Majority PAC. It continues a strategy of making health care a chief issue in the Senate contest between Scott and Bill Nelson.

"The ads will run across a broad range of platforms where voters are consuming content online in English and Spanish, including Facebook, Google, YouTube and Pandora, as well as on online news platforms such CNN, the New York Times, Univision and Telemundo. Voters who are interested in learning more about Scott's self-serving record will be directed to profitingoff.us," the groups said in a release provided first to the Tampa Bay Times.

An example of a digital ad against Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for U.S. Senate.
An example of a digital ad against Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for U.S. Senate.

Scott's rise in politics was driven by opposition to Obamacare but in 2013, he said he was in favor of expanding Medicaid, which would largely be funded by the federal government. He later backtracked.

The digital ad also faults Scott on pre-existing conditions. Scott did support repealing Obamacare, which barred insurers from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions, but he has said he supports alternative plans with that provision.

At the same time, Attorney General Pam Bondi joined a lawsuit in Texas that takes aim at the protections. Scott's office has said he did not ask or encourage Bondi to do that.

Read more:

Pre-existing conditions latest flashpoint in Nelson-Scott battle

Bill Nelson's campaign propped up by the outside money he decries