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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Real People Really Misleading in Florida

Real People Really Misleading in Florida

TV ads by competing outside groups employ local residents to make misleading claims about Democrat Alex Sink and Republican David Jolly in Florida’s hotly contested special House race.

American Crossroads/Crossroads GPS

Affiliated Republican advocacy groups formed with the help of Ed Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Karl Rove, an adviser to President George W. Bush.

House Majority PAC

A super PAC focused on returning Democrats to the majority in the House.

Competing Attack Ads in Florida Miss Mark

Competing Attack Ads in Florida Miss Mark

Competing attack ads ask what voters “really know” about Florida congressional candidates Alex Sink and David Jolly. But don’t count on the ads to clear things up, as both rely on misleading claims.

No Truth to ‘No Bid’

In Florida’s gubernatorial race, Republican candidate Rick Scott claims his Democratic opponent, Alex Sink — the state’s chief financial officer — “funneled” $770,000 in "no-bid contracts" to her former employer, Bank of America. That’s not true. Sink was not the principle decision-maker, and there was plenty of open competition for the business in question.
The ad also claims she had a conflict of interest, though there’s no evidence of that.

The ad, which first aired Sept.

Scott’s Prisoner Release Plan?

The Florida Police Benevolent Association takes a half-baked proposal to an illogical conclusion in a new TV ad that invites Floridians to think that Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott wants to shutter state prisons and free hardened criminals.
The ad — “Rick Scott is Florida’s Worst Nightmare” — was released Sept. 27. It is based on Scott’s proposal to cut costs at Florida’s state prisons. On his campaign website, Scott says he can cut $1 billion from the prison budget by reducing labor,

Did the Stimulus Create Jobs?

The economic stimulus package is a favorite target of Republican candidates and groups, but more than a few ads falsely claim it did not create or save any jobs. Some recent examples: Republican House candidate Dan Debicella charges …